University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Doctoral Thesis:
Joshua Zake
(2015):
Smallholder Banana Farming Systems and Climate Variability: Understanding the Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation in Mpigi District, Uganda.
Doctoral Thesis - Institut für Bodenforschung (IBF),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 120.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- Overall the study contributes to sustainable banana farming systems for food security under the prevailing climate conditions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions involving selected farmers. They were analysed using the SPSS 16 to generate descriptive statistics. Soil samples were obtained randomly from two layers in 20 farms identified through simple stratified sampling. They were analyzed for total soil organic matter, total soil organic C, pH, total N, plant-available P, exchangeable K, soil texture and bulk density. Organic C stocks were calculated based on soil organic C and bulky density. Aboveground plant biomass was determined using allometric equations based on tree diameter and height. Belowground biomass was calculated using equations based on the respective aboveground plant biomass. The study revealed that farmers consider implementation of climate change disaster preparedness strategies as inadequate. This triggered implementation of early actions by farmers to respond to climate change disasters. Climate change impacts triggered adaptation and mitigation innovation´s development by farmers. The banana-coffee agroforestry system had significantly higher total soil organic matter, and total N compared to the banana monoculture. Similar trends were observed for soil organic C and total C pools. The former contained 1.5 times more soil organic C. However, the reverse was true for exchangeable K. It´s concluded that: a. Farmers consider implementation of climate change disaster preparedness strategies at community level as inadequate; b. Climate change impacts trigger farmers to develop innovations for adaptation and mitigation; c. Banana-coffee agroforestry improves soil fertility and C storage compared to banana monoculture farming systems under the current climate conditions.
- Betreuer: Zechmeister-Boltenstern Sophie
- 1. Berater: Hauser Michael
- 2. Berater: Friedel Jürgen Kurt