An econometric investigation of impacts of sustainable land management practices on soil carbon and yield risk: A potential for climate change mitigation

We investigate the impacts of sustainable land management practices on soil carbon stocks and also impacts of soil carbon on the mean and variance of crop production using econometric tools. Using a cross-sectional plot-level dataset collected from three agroecological zones of Uganda with soil carbon measured at a depth of 0 to 15 centimeters, our results have robustly shown that irrigation, fertilizers, improved fallow, crop residues, mulching, and trash lines are positively and significantly associated with higher soil carbon, corroborating results from agronomic experiments. However, we found crop rotation associated with lower soil carbon, which has also been observed in some agronomic experiments. Soil carbon has shown a significant nonlinear effect on crop production with the threshold occurring at 29.96 milligrams of carbon per hectare, above which farmers start to see significant positive effects on crop production. Furthermore, we found soil carbon to be associated with lower variance of crop production; hence, soil carbon is an indicator of crop yield loss risk (soil carbon has a risk-reducing effect). These empirical results have demonstrated strong evidence for developing countries of the potential of sustainable land management practices to enhance carbon sequestration and also the potential of soil carbon to reduce production risk. The results have implications for the role that soil carbon can play in adaptation to climate change and provision of ecosystem services.Land management, Climate change, soil carbon, Production risk, Carbon sequestration, Just and Pope stochastic production function,

Gender Differences Among Academic Staff and Students Offering STEM in National Universities in Uganda: The Case of Kyambogo University

Female University students and academic staff continue to be underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This study examined the status of female academic staff and students offering STEM at Kyambogo University (KyU), Uganda. The status and trend of female to male ratio of academic staff and students were determined. Practical strategies and policies for narrowing the gender gap for students offering STEM were identified. The status and trend of female to male ratio of students was determined by analyzing Student’s Academic Registrar’s   and graduation records   for the academic year 2014-2018. For academic staff, a gender analysis of Human Resources records was conducted based on the number of male or female academic staff teaching at the University in both STEM and non-STEM disciplines. There was an increase over time in student’s graduation from the Non-STEM fields with R2=0.3254 for the undergraduate programmes (P<0.05). The number of students in STEM fields declined gradually overtime, R2= 0.91; P<0.05). Male dominance among students and leadership position among academic staff in STEM and Non-STEM fields was evident. Difference between career pathways are causes for low female students and academic staff enrolment and teaching in STEM fields. The University needs to implement gender responsive programmes that enhance entry, retention, and participation in leadership positions for both female staff and students in STEM fields. Keywords: Status, Female Academic Staff and Students, STEM, Kyambogo University DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-24-09 Publication date:August 31st 202

Impact of Climate Variability on Cool Weather Crop Yield in Ethiopia

The research examined effect of climate variability on yield of the two dominant cool weather cereals (wheat and barley) in central highland and Arssi grain plough farming systems of Ethiopia using eight round unbalanced panel data (1994-2014). The stochastic frontier model result revealed that production inputs for producing wheat and barley in the two farming system had significant effect. Crop season rainfall increment had negative and significant effect on technical efficiency of smallholders to produce wheat as to the model result. Technical efficiency of two crops responded differently for cropping season rainfall variability, in which wheat had negative and significant interaction with it while barley had positive. Given this, cropping season temperature had significant and positive effect on technical efficiency of both wheat and barley. Having this into account, yield of the two crops responded similarly for changes in production inputs like working capital, human labor and fertilizer. In general, rainfall inconsistency at the different stages of the production period had strong effect on yield of the two crops. Given this, the study forwarded an assignment to plant scientists in order to have further investigation on how the two crops responded differently to temperature variabilit

A Gender Perspective of the Status of Water and Sanitation Landscape in East African Universities.

Access and utilization of adequate water supply and sanitation facilities is high on the agenda of both International national and local communities including East African Universities EAUs Despite global demand for higher education characterized with increased male and female enrolment the current levels of access and utilization to water supply and sanitation facilities remain largely inadequate and gendered in EAUs Among the contributing factors is limited gender scholarship to question the causes of gender inequalities in access and utilization of water and sanitation facilities in universities including selected EAUs This paper aims to explore the gender responsiveness of access and utilization of water and sanitation facilities and to ascertain the underlying gendered causes of the current status of water and sanitation facilities in EAUs The paper adopted crosssectional gender focused study design A total of 701 respondents were interviewed at both Makerere and Dar es salaam Universities Qualitative gender disaggregated data was collected using semi-structured and in-depth interviews focus group discussions and follow up site visits for observations Water and sanitation facilities were georeferenced and analysed using geo-statistics techniques and Euclidian distance in ArcGIS 10 1 Gender concerns were captured both in access and utilization modeling gender related criteria in the reclassification of the number of toilet per person Strong evidence indicates that EAUs are gendered and exhibit severe deficiencies in water and sanitation facilities Major contributing factors of the observed deficiencies in water and sanitation facilities were lack of gender focused research rapid increment of student enrollment lack of water and sanitation policies and prioritization decline in government support associated with liberalization and expansion of universities among others Based on these findings there is need to improve and engender the curren

Effect of Mulching and Permanent Planting Basin Dimensions on Maize (Zea mays L.) Production in a Sub-Humid Climate

In sub-humid regions, declining maize (Zea mays L.) yield is majorly attributed to unreliable rainfall and high evapotranspiration demand during critical growth stages. However, there are limited farm technologies for conserving soil water and increasing water use efficiency (WUE) in rainfed production systems amidst a changing climate. This study aimed at assessing the performance of different climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices, such as mulching and permanent planting basins (PPB), on maize growth, yield, water use efficiency and soil moisture storage. Field experiments involving mulches of 2 cm (M_2 cm), 4 cm (M_4 cm) and 6 cm (M_6 cm) thickness, permanent planting basins of 20 cm (PPB_20 cm) and 30 cm (PPB_30 cm) depths and the control/or conventional treatments were conducted for three maize growing seasons in the sub-humid climate of Western Uganda. Results indicate that maize biomass significantly increased under the tested CSA practices in the study area. Use of permanent planting basins relatively increased maize grain yield (11–66%) and water use efficiency (33–94%) compared to the conventional practice. Additionally, plots treated with mulch achieved an increase in grain yield (18–65%) and WUE (28–85%) relative to the control. Soil amendment with M_4 cm and M_6 cm significantly increased soil moisture storage compared to permanent planting basins and the conventional practice. Overall, the results highlight the positive impact of CSA practices on improving maize yield and water use efficiency in rainfed agriculture production systems which dominate the sub-humid regions

Simulating Maize Productivity under Selected Climate Smart Agriculture Practices Using AquaCrop Model in a Sub-humid Environment

Crop models are crucial in assessing the reliability and sustainability of soil water conservation practices. The AquaCrop model was tested and validated for maize productivity under the selected climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices in the rainfed production systems. The model was validated using final biomass (B) and grain yield (GY) data from field experiments involving seven CSA practices (halfmoon pits, 2 cm thick mulch, 4 cm thick mulch, 6 cm thick mulch, 20 cm deep permanent planting basins (PPB), and 30 cm deep) and the control (conventional practice) where no CSA was applied. Statistics for coefficient of determination (R2), Percent bias (Pbias), and Nash–Sutcliffe (E) for B and GY indicate that the AquaCrop model was robust to predict crop yield and biomass as illustrated by the value of R2 > 0.80, Pbias −1.52–1.25% and E > 0.68 for all the CSA practices studied. The relative changes between the actual and simulated water use efficiency (WUE) of grain yield was observed in most of the CSA practices. However, measured WUE was seemingly better in the 2 cm thick mulch, indicating a potential for water saving and yield improvement. Therefore, the AquaCrop model is recommended as a reliable tool for assessing the effectiveness of the selected CSA practices for sustainable and improved maize production; although, the limitations in severely low soil moisture conditions and water stressed environments should be further investigated considering variations in agroecological zones

Impact of Climate and Land Use/Land Cover Change on the Water Resources of a Tropical Inland Valley Catchment in Uganda, East Africa

The impact of climate and land use/land cover (LULC) change continues to threaten water resources availability for the agriculturally used inland valley wetlands and their catchments in East Africa. This study assessed climate and LULC change impacts on the hydrological processes of a tropical headwater inland valley catchment in Uganda. The hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to analyze climate and LULC change impacts on the hydrological processes. An ensemble of six regional climate models (RCMs) from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, were used for climate change assessment for historical (1976-2005) and future climate (2021-2050). Four LULC scenarios defined as exploitation, total conservation, slope conservation, and protection of headwater catchment were considered. The results indicate an increase in precipitation by 7.4% and 21.8% of the annual averages in the future under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. Future wet conditions are more pronounced in the short rainy season than in the long rainy season. Flooding intensity is likely to increase during the rainy season with low flows more pronounced in the dry season. Increases in future annual averages of water yield (29.0% and 42.7% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) and surface runoff (37.6% and 51.8% under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively) relative to the historical simulations are projected. LULC and climate change individually will cause changes in the inland valley hydrological processes, but more pronounced changes are expected if the drivers are combined, although LULC changes will have a dominant influence. Adoption of total conservation, slope conservation and protection of headwater catchment LULC scenarios will significantly reduce climate change impacts on water resources in the inland valley. Thus, if sustainable climate-smart management practices are adopted, the availability of water resources for human consumption and agricultural production will increase

Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for water adaptation in Uganda

The Climate Change Adaptation and ICT (CHAI) project developed an information and communication system employing a mix of technologies to facilitate gathering, storing, analyzing, and sharing climate and weather-related data from fixed weather stations and market outlets. Drought is the major hazard, and communities suffer from severe water shortages for domestic and agricultural use. The project disseminated localized seasonal forecasts, weekly local livestock and crop market data, low-cost rainwater harvesting techniques, and drought and flood coping mechanisms. Short message service (SMS) broadcasts were targeted to specific farmer groups, community leaders, district technical officers, and politicians from local councils

Predicted land use and land cover outlook for semi-arid Lokere and Lokok catchments in Karamoja region, Uganda

The semi-arid Lokere and Lokok catchments in northeastern Uganda are experiencing land use and land cover (LULC) change driven by policies and actions aimed at pastoralist sedentarisation. While these efforts present a trajectory of a landscape dominated by farming, livestock herding or grazing persists. The objective of this study was to project medium, and long-term LULC for Lokere and Lokok catchments in Karamoja, Uganda. We applied automatic multi-perceptron neural network, built on Markov chain modeling method, along with multi-criteria evaluation strategies; all embedded in the IDRISI Land Change Modeler (LCM) to project the catchments\u2019 LULC to the year 2030 and 2050. The model was trained using 1994 and 2003 LULC, and validated with 2013 LULC. Results of three modelled policy scenarios; business as usual (BAU), pro-livestock and pro-farming; to the years 2030 and 2050 showed that small scale farming (SSF) would increase in all scenarios, even if policy shifts to promote livestock rearing. Pro-farming policies would, in both 2030 and 2050, result in reduction of grassland as SSF increases; doubling the 2003 land area by 2050. The results of this study facilitate assessment of potential impacts of the future LULC and policy evaluation in the catchments.Les bassins versants semi-arides de Lokere et de Lokok dans le nord-est de l\u2019Ouganda connaissent un changement d\u2019utilisation des terres et de couverture terrestre (UTCT) motiv\ue9 par des politiques et des actions visant la s\ue9dentarisation des pasteurs. Si ces efforts pr\ue9sentent une trajectoire d\u2019un paysage domin\ue9 par l\u2019agriculture, l\u2019\ue9levage ou le p\ue2turage persiste. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de projeter une UTCT \ue0 moyen et long terme pour les bassins versants de Lokere et Lokok \ue0 Karamoja, en Ouganda. Nous avons appliqu\ue9 un r\ue9seau neuronal multi-perception automatique, construit sur la m\ue9thode de mod\ue9lisation de cha\ueene de Markov, ainsi que des strat\ue9gies d\u2019\ue9valuation multicrit\ue8res; tous int\ue9gr\ue9s dans le mod\ue8le IDRISI Land Change Modeler (LCM) pour projeter le UTCT des bassins versants jusqu\u2019en 2030 et 2050. Le mod\ue8le a \ue9t\ue9 form\ue9 \ue0 l\u2019aide de 1994 et 2003 UTCT, et valid\ue9 avec UTCT de 2013. R\ue9sultats de trois sc\ue9narios de politique mod\ue9lis\ue9s; business as usual (BAU), pro-b\ue9tail et pro-agriculture; a montr\ue9 que l\u2019agriculture \ue0 petite \ue9chelle (SSF) augmenterait dans tous les sc\ue9narios, m\ueame si les politiques changeaient pour promouvoir l\u2019\ue9levage pour les ann\ue9es 2030 et 2050. Des politiques favorables \ue0 l\u2019agriculture entra\ueeneraient, en 2030 et 2050, une r\ue9duction des prairies \ue0 mesure que les champs de culture augmentent; doubler sa superficie de 2003 d\u2019ici 2050. Les r\ue9sultats de cette \ue9tude facilitent l\u2019\ue9valuation des impacts potentiels de UTCT future et l\u2019\ue9valuation des politiques dans les bassins versants

A Simplified Spatial Methodology for Assessing Land Productivity Status in Africa

The degradation of soil, vegetation and socio-economic transformations are a huge threat to Africa’s land production. This study aimed to (i) assess the soil and land productivity of standing biomass and (ii) determine the effect of rainfall on the standing biomass in Eastern Africa. Soil productivity was determined using the Soil Productivity Index (SPI) and a simplified model was developed to estimate the Net Primary Productivity (NPP). The SPI indicators used included soil-organic matter, texture, soil moisture, base-saturation, pH, cation-exchange-capacity, soil-depth and drainage. The inputs of the simplified model are: MODIS Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), soil erosion, soil nutrient content and input, rainfall, land-use/cover and agro-ecological zones. The findings reveal that the countries with the most productive soils are Mauritius, Rwanda and South Sudan—while, for standing biomass, the countries with the highest spatial extent are Mauritius (97%), Rwanda (96%), Uganda (95%), South Sudan (89%), Ethiopia (47%) and Kenya (36%). Standing biomass is dominant in biomes such as natural forests, woodlands, croplands, grasslands, wetlands and tree-plantations. High land productivity was attributed to soil quality and management, land policy reforms, favourable climatic conditions and sustainable land husbandry activities. Rainfall was significantly correlated with standing biomass in most of the studied countries (p < 0.05) except Djibouti and Rwanda. Therefore, monitoring soil health, use and land reforms are key to sustaining vegetative biomass