Pulses Farming; An Adaptive Strategy to Climate Change in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: A Case Study of Itigi District in Singida Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The study assessed pulses farming as an adaptation to climate change in semi-arid areas. FGD, Household Questionnaires, Key Informant Interview and Observation were used to collect primary data from four study villages; Itigi, Ipande, Damweru and Kitopeni. A total of 106 heads of households were involved in the study through questionnaires and quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed statistically and through content analysis technique respectively. Cereals among maize, millet and sorghum have lost their economic significance among farmers while pulses including chickpea, lentils and beans are potentially currently cultivated by more farmers. Climate change effects such as shifting and shortening of rainfall season and increasing drought have contributed to the decline of cereal crop yields. Specifically shifting of rainfall season and drought interaction vitally influence the decline of cereal crop yields, F (1, 99) = 198.770, p = 0.000 and the same causes have led to the adoption of chickpea and lentils farming in the study area as shifting of rainfall season was statically significant to the adoption of pulses farming, X2 = 9.138, df = 2, p = 0.010 and drought was, X2 = 106.000, df = 3, p = 0.000 as the pulses are found adoptive drought condition and shortened rainfall season. This has enhanced food and nutrition assurance to farmers, increased household income and farmers’ livelihood.

Characterization of Vertisols Fertility Status and Their Implications on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Farming in Semi-Arid Areas of Itigi District in Tanzania

“…Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)Topsoil CEC were 162.03, 37.58 and 25.46 cmol(+)/kg while for subsoil were 167.42, 47.15 and 25.85 cmol(+)/kg in profiles IPD-P1, DMR-P1 and ITG-P1 respectively. These study profiles had high levels of CEC due to more mixed clay mineralogy[26].…”

“…The level of Phosphorus in all profiles was low (<2.10 mg/kg) based on indices by [34] though increasing with an increase in depth from topsoil to subsoil. The low levels of available P might have been due to P fixation under acidity and alkalinity in forming insoluble compounds and presence of parent materials which are having low phosphorus content [26] in which the situation limits crop plants uptake of P. vertisols are characterized with low level of P as other studies have revealed the same findings including [18], [20] and [35]. Low level of P in soil reduces chickpea yields [35].…”

“…The level of pH in observed profiles though increased significantly from topsoil to subsoil in all studied profiles and rated ranging from slight acidic to moderate alkaline as ratings by [31] provided favorable conditions for the growth and production of chickpea as the crop grows well in soils with pH that range from 6.0 to 8.0 as suggested by Gaur et al (2010). Additionally, most crops perform well in soils with pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 and soils with pH>7.5 affects availability of certain nutrients including phosphorus, a challenge that would like to be experienced in Profile ITG-P1 [26].…”

“…The available level of organic carbon in all profiles was low as based on indices by [32] with minimal variation (Table 3) implying that there was a low level of organic matter in the soils despite their dark colour. The possible rea-sons for low level of OC and OM in semi-arid areas is due to limited availability of vegetation caused by low rainfall, hence, enhancing low level of accumulation and decomposition of plants [26]. Low level of organic matter has been adversely affecting yields production of various crops including chickpea [32].…”