Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for most people in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region including South Africa. Climate models are predicting a 1.5–2 °C temperature rise compared to pre-industrial times. This temperature rise has the potential to negatively affect maize production. The purpose o...

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Main Authors: Matandirotya, Newton R., Manjeru, Pepukai, Cilliers, Dirk P, Burger, Roelof P, Mushore, Terrerence Darling
Format: Book chapter
Language:English
Published: Springer 2022
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87934-1_13
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4997
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author Matandirotya, Newton R.
Manjeru, Pepukai
Cilliers, Dirk P
Burger, Roelof P
Mushore, Terrerence Darling
author_facet Matandirotya, Newton R.
Manjeru, Pepukai
Cilliers, Dirk P
Burger, Roelof P
Mushore, Terrerence Darling
author_sort Matandirotya, Newton R.
collection DSpace
description Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for most people in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region including South Africa. Climate models are predicting a 1.5–2 °C temperature rise compared to pre-industrial times. This temperature rise has the potential to negatively affect maize production. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between climatic elements and maize production from two regions of South Africa- the Highveld represented by the Free state province and the Lowveld represented by Limpopo province over the period 2007–2018. The highest planted hectarage was from the Highveld at 855,000 ha for white maize and 365,000 ha for yellow maize. Correspondingly, the same province produced the highest output per hectare of both white and yellow maize at 4745.25 tonnes and 2208.3 tonnes respectively. Yellow maize yielded a maximum of 8 tonnes per hectare (2016/2017) while for white maize the maximum was 7.5 tonnes per hectare in 2016/2017 as well as 2017/2018 seasons on the Lowveld. A linear regression analysis between maize production and area grown indicated a positive strong association for both regions at (r2 = 0.60) for Highveld and (r2 = 0.57) for Lowveld respectively. For yellow maize, a weak positive relationship was established on the Highveld at (r2 = 0.26) while a very strong association was established in the Lowveld at (r2 = 0.85). To increase maize output, there is a need to shift from a rain-dependent type of production to a mixed approach where irrigation systems are also infused.
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spelling ir-11408-49972022-07-21T12:39:27Z Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa Matandirotya, Newton R. Manjeru, Pepukai Cilliers, Dirk P Burger, Roelof P Mushore, Terrerence Darling Climate variability Maize Production Rainfall Variability Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for most people in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region including South Africa. Climate models are predicting a 1.5–2 °C temperature rise compared to pre-industrial times. This temperature rise has the potential to negatively affect maize production. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between climatic elements and maize production from two regions of South Africa- the Highveld represented by the Free state province and the Lowveld represented by Limpopo province over the period 2007–2018. The highest planted hectarage was from the Highveld at 855,000 ha for white maize and 365,000 ha for yellow maize. Correspondingly, the same province produced the highest output per hectare of both white and yellow maize at 4745.25 tonnes and 2208.3 tonnes respectively. Yellow maize yielded a maximum of 8 tonnes per hectare (2016/2017) while for white maize the maximum was 7.5 tonnes per hectare in 2016/2017 as well as 2017/2018 seasons on the Lowveld. A linear regression analysis between maize production and area grown indicated a positive strong association for both regions at (r2 = 0.60) for Highveld and (r2 = 0.57) for Lowveld respectively. For yellow maize, a weak positive relationship was established on the Highveld at (r2 = 0.26) while a very strong association was established in the Lowveld at (r2 = 0.85). To increase maize output, there is a need to shift from a rain-dependent type of production to a mixed approach where irrigation systems are also infused. 2022-07-21T12:39:27Z 2022-07-21T12:39:27Z 2022-04-22 Book chapter Matandirotya, N.R., Manjeru, P., Cilliers, D.P., Burger, R.P., Mushore, T.D. (2022). Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa. In: Leal Filho, W., Djekic, I., Smetana, S., Kovaleva, M. (eds) Handbook of Climate Change Across the Food Supply Chain. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87934-1_13 978-3-030-87934-1 978-3-030-87933-4 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87934-1_13 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4997 en Handbook of Climate Change Across the Food Supply Chain;Pages 229 – 244 open Springer
spellingShingle Climate variability
Maize
Production
Rainfall
Variability
Matandirotya, Newton R.
Manjeru, Pepukai
Cilliers, Dirk P
Burger, Roelof P
Mushore, Terrerence Darling
Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title_full Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title_fullStr Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title_short Impact of Climate Variability on Maize Production in South Africa
title_sort impact of climate variability on maize production in south africa
topic Climate variability
Maize
Production
Rainfall
Variability
url https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87934-1_13
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4997
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AT burgerroelofp impactofclimatevariabilityonmaizeproductioninsouthafrica
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