Browsing by Author "Mbungu, W"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Assessing the Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Hydrology of the Mbarali River Sub-Catchment. The Case of Upper Great Ruaha Sub-Basin, Tanzania.
(Scientific Research Publishing Inc., 2018) Mutayoba, E; Kashaigili, J.J; Kahimba, F.C; Mbungu, W; Chilagane, N.A
Intensification of agricultural land use and population growth from 1990-2017 has caused changes in land cover and land use of the Mbarali River sub-catchment which is located in the Upper Great Ruaha Sub basin, Tanzania. This has affected the magnitude of the surface runoff, total water yield and the groundwater flow. This study assesses the impacts of the land cover and land use changes on the stream flows and hydrological water balance components (surface runoff, water yield, percolation and actual evapotranspiration). The land use and land cover (LULC) maps for three window period snapshots, 1990, 2006 and 2017 were created from Landsat TM and OLI_TIRS with the help of QGIS version 2.6. Supervised classification was used to generate LULC maps using the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm and Kappa statistics for assessment of accuracy. SWAT was set up and run to simulate stream flows and hydrological water balance components. The assessment of the impacts of land use and land cover changes on stream flows and hydrological water balance component was performed by comparing hydrological parameters simulated by SWAT using land use scenarios of 2006 and 2017 against the baseline land use scenario of 1990. Accuracy of LULC classification was good with Kappa statistics ranging between 0.9 and 0.99. There was a drastic increase in areal coverage of cultivated land, for periods 1990-2006 (5.84%) and 2006-2017 (12.05%) compared to other LULC. During 2006 and 2017 surface runoff increased by 4% and 9% respectively; however, water yield increased by only 0.5% compared to 1990 baseline period. This was attributed to increased proportion of cultivated land in the sub-catchment which has a high curve number (59.60) that indicates a higher runoff response and low infiltration rate.
Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on Hydrological Characteristics of the Mbarali River Sub Catchment Using High Resolution Climate Simulations from CORDEX Regional Climate Models
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2018) Mutayoba, E; Kashaigili, J.J; Kahimba, F.C; Mbungu, W; Chilagane, N.A
This study assesses the impacts of climate change on water resources over Mbarali River sub-catchment using high resolution climate simulations from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment Regional Climate Models (CORDEX_RCMs). Daily rainfall, minimum and maximum temperatures for historical climate (1971-2000) and for the future climate projection (2011-2100) under two Representative Concentration Pathways RCP 8.5 and RCP 4.5 were used as input into the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrological model to simulate stream flows and water balance components for the Mbarali River sub-catchment. The impacts of climate change on hydrological conditions over Mbarali river catchment were assessed by comparing the mean values of stream flows and water balance components during the present (2011-2040), mid (2041-2070) and end (2071-2100) centuries with their respective mean values in the baseline (1971-2000) climate condition. The results of the study indicate that, in the future, under both RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios, the four main components that determine change in catchment water balance (rainfall, ground water recharge, evaporation and surface runoff) over Mbarali river catchment are projected to increase. While the stream flows are projected to decline in the future by 13.33% under RCP 4.5 and 13.67% under RCP 8.5 emission scenarios, it is important to note that simulated surface runoff under RCP8.5 emission scenario is higher than that which is obtained under the RCP4.5 emission scenario.
Influence of Transplanting Age on Paddy Yield under the System of Rice Intensification
(Agricultural Sciences, 2016-07) Reuben, P; Kahimba, F.C; Katambara, Z; Mahoo, H.F; Mbungu, W; Mhenga, F; Nyarubamba, A; Maugo, M
Agronomic practices such as transplanting age, plant spacing, and water application regimes in irrigated paddy production can have a significant impact towards the performance in rice growth and yield. A study was conducted to investigate the optimum transplanting age for maximum rice productivity under the systems of rice intensification (SRI) technology. The study treatments adopted were three representing 8, 12 and 15 days old seedlings replicated 3 times each. The experiment was set in randomized complete block design (RCBD) and transplanted at spacing 25 cm × 25 cm between rice hills. The rice variety tested was TXD 306 Super SARO, which was recommended by the ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania. Data was collected throughout the growing season in two mixed short rains and dry season of September 2013/2014 and September 2014/2015. Data collected included biomass at vegetative, flowering and harvesting stages, total number of tillers per hill, number of productive tillers per hill, number of grains per panicle and rice grain yield at the end of the season. Data was analyzed using SAS software version 9.1. The results suggested that transplanting at younger age of 8 to 12 days was recommended for Mkindo area in Mvomero Distirct, and other areas with similar soil conditions and agro ecological characteristics.
Optimizing Plant Spacing under the Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI)
(Scientific Research Publishing Inc., 2016) Reuben, P; Kahimba, F.C; Katambara, Z; Mahoo, H.F; Mbungu, W; Mhenga, F; Nyarubamba, A; Maugo, M
Optimum plant spacing is among key agronomic parameters that influence crop growth performance and crop yield. A study was conducted to investigate the optimum rice transplanting spacing under the Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI) practice in Tanzania. The study composed of five treatments of rice transplanting spacing namely 1) 15 cm × 15 cm (T1); 2) 20 cm × 20 cm (T2); 3) 25 cm × 25 cm (T3); 4) 30 cm × 30 cm (T4); and 5) 35 cm × 35 cm (T5). The experiment was set in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and transplanted with uniform age of 12 days old seedlings in all treatments. The rice variety tested was TXD 306 Super SARO which was recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture for flooded rice in central and eastern Tanzania. Data was collected throughout the two growing seasons (Masika and Vuli) of 2013 and 2014. Data collected include biomass at vegetative, flowering and harvesting stages, total number of tillers per hill, number of productive tillers per hill, number of grains per panicle and rice grain yield at the end of the season. Data was analyzed using SAS software version 9.1. Results have shown that transplanting spacing of 25 cm × 25 cm, 30 cm × 30 cm and 35 cm × 35 cm has significantly performed better than rice transplanted at 15 cm × 15 cm and 20 cm × 20 cm. For the higher performing treatments, 25 cm × 25 cm has performed much higher than the rest. It is therefore recommended that for rice variety TXD 306 Super SARO under SRI practice in areas with soil conditions similar to Mkindo area in Morogoro Region, the optimum transplanting spacing that gives maximum yield is 25 × 25 cm.