NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Modelling Bambara Groundnut Yield in Southern Africa: Towards a Climate-Resilient FutureCurrent agriculture depends on a few major species grown as monocultures that are supported by global research underpinning current productivity. However, many hundreds of alternative crops have the potential to meet real world challenges by sustaining humanity, diversifying agricultural systems for food and nutritional security, and especially responding to climate change through their resilience to certain climate conditions. Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.), an underutilised African legume, is an exemplar crop for climate resilience. Predicted yield performances of Bambara groundnut by AquaCrop (a crop−water productivity model) were evaluated for baseline (1980−2009) and mid-century climates (2040−2069) under 20 downscaled Global Climate Models (CMIP5-RCP8.5), as well as for climate sensitivities (AgMIPC3MP) across 3 locations in Southern Africa (Botswana, South Africa, Namibia). Different land - races of Bambara groundnut originating from various semi-arid African locations showed diverse yield performances with diverse sensitivities to climate. S19 originating from hot-dry conditions in Namibia has greater future yield potential compared to the Swaziland landrace Uniswa Red-UN across study sites. South Africa has the lowest yield under the current climate, indicating positive future yield trends. Namibia reported the highest baseline yield at optimum current temperatures, indicating less yield potential in future climates. Bambara groundnut shows positive yield potential at temperatures of up to ~31degC, with further warming pushing yields down. Thus, many regions in Southern Africa can utilize Bambara groundnut successfully in the coming decades. This modelling exercise supports decisions on genotypic suitability for present and future climates at specific locations.
Document ID
20150023383
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Karunaratne, A. S.
(Sabaragamuwa Univ. of Sri Lanka Belihuloya, Sri Lanka)
Walker, S.
(Nottingham Univ. United Kingdom)
Ruane, A. C.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY United States)
Date Acquired
December 18, 2015
Publication Date
September 28, 2015
Publication Information
Publication: Climate Research
Publisher: Inter-Research
Volume: 65
ISSN: 1616-1572
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN23266
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 509496.02.08.04.24
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
farm crops
position (location)
Namibia
Africa
Republic of South Africa
agriculture
climate
climate change

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available