A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and
Technology
The shift of growing seasons onset due to rainfall and seasonal variability are among the
climate change impacts affecting agricultural productivity in semi-arid. Seasonal variations in
planting dates in semi-arid Tanzania because of climate variability and change make
difficulties among farmers in determining the appropriate planting dates. Climate-smart
agriculture (CSA) practices are reinforced to mitigate such climate change impacts and
sustain crop production, though there is limited information on the performance of CSA
practices under the uncertainty of planting dates due to unpredictable rainfall on-set and
patterns. This study assessed the effects of CSA practices, planting dates and interaction on
soil moisture, maize growth and yield and their economic benefits at Mlali village of
Dodoma, Tanzania. A split-plot experimental design was adopted, treatments involved four
CSA practices and three planting dates. Maize plant height, leaf area index and biomass were
measured during growth while grain, nutrient uptake and economics monitored at harvest. In
both seasons, chololo pits and tied ridges CSA practices demonstrated the highest soil
moisture at 10.8% and 13% that influenced maize growth and yield. Chololo pits at early and
tied-ridges at late planting dates significantly (p = 0.047 and p = 0.001) increased grain yield
respectively in both seasons. In 2017/2018, tied ridges at normal planting dates had higher
marginal net return of 910 USD ha
-1
and 697 USD ha
-1
similarly in 2018/2019, tied ridges at
late (315 USD ha
-1
) and chololo pits at early planting (434 USD ha
-1
). These results
recommend chololo pits at early and tied ridges at late planting dates as appropriate CSA
practices for resilience and economic benefits among smallholder farmers in semi-arid
Tanzania.