Rainfall characteristics and their implications for rain-fed agriculture: a case study in the Upper Zambezi River Basin

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • M. Beyer
  • M. Wallner
  • L. Bahlmann
  • V. Thiemig
  • J. Dietrich
  • M. Billib

Externe Organisationen

  • Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR)
  • Gemeinsame Forschungsstelle (GFS)
  • Utrecht University
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)321-343
Seitenumfang23
FachzeitschriftHydrological sciences journal
Jahrgang61
Ausgabenummer2
Frühes Online-Datum17 Dez. 2015
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 2016

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigates rainfall characteristics in the Upper Zambezi River Basin and implications for rain-fed agriculture. Seventeen indices describing the character of each rainy season were calculated using a bias-corrected version of TRMM-B42 v6 rainfall estimate for 1998–2010. These were correlated with maize yields obtained by applying a SVATmodel. Finally, a self-organizing map (SOM) was trained to examine multivariate relationships. The results reveal a significant spatio‐temporal variability of rainfall indices and yields, with a gradient from north to south. Yields greater than 1 t/ha are found to be only achievable with rainy seasons longer than 160 days. For shorter durations, the interplay of total rainfall, dry spell frequency and maximum dry/wet spell durations determines agricultural success. Using total rainfall alone or wet day frequency as estimators for yields is insufficient. Alternating wet and dry spells affect yields most negatively. The results have significance in the context of agricultural planning under changing climatic conditions and agricultural planning, as well as for the development of forecasting mechanisms. EDITOR Z.W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Efstratiadis

Zitieren

Rainfall characteristics and their implications for rain-fed agriculture: a case study in the Upper Zambezi River Basin. / Beyer, M.; Wallner, M.; Bahlmann, L. et al.
in: Hydrological sciences journal, Jahrgang 61, Nr. 2, 2016, S. 321-343.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Beyer M, Wallner M, Bahlmann L, Thiemig V, Dietrich J, Billib M. Rainfall characteristics and their implications for rain-fed agriculture: a case study in the Upper Zambezi River Basin. Hydrological sciences journal. 2016;61(2):321-343. Epub 2015 Dez 17. doi: 10.1080/02626667.2014.983519
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Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rainfall characteristics and their implications for rain-fed agriculture

T2 - a case study in the Upper Zambezi River Basin

AU - Beyer, M.

AU - Wallner, M.

AU - Bahlmann, L.

AU - Thiemig, V.

AU - Dietrich, J.

AU - Billib, M.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was partly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) within the CERPA project under contract number 01UN1007.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - ABSTRACT: This study investigates rainfall characteristics in the Upper Zambezi River Basin and implications for rain-fed agriculture. Seventeen indices describing the character of each rainy season were calculated using a bias-corrected version of TRMM-B42 v6 rainfall estimate for 1998–2010. These were correlated with maize yields obtained by applying a SVATmodel. Finally, a self-organizing map (SOM) was trained to examine multivariate relationships. The results reveal a significant spatio‐temporal variability of rainfall indices and yields, with a gradient from north to south. Yields greater than 1 t/ha are found to be only achievable with rainy seasons longer than 160 days. For shorter durations, the interplay of total rainfall, dry spell frequency and maximum dry/wet spell durations determines agricultural success. Using total rainfall alone or wet day frequency as estimators for yields is insufficient. Alternating wet and dry spells affect yields most negatively. The results have significance in the context of agricultural planning under changing climatic conditions and agricultural planning, as well as for the development of forecasting mechanisms. EDITOR Z.W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Efstratiadis

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