Intra-seasonal rainfall variability and crop yield in the Upper East Region of Ghana

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dc.creatorAdimassu, Zenebe
dc.creatorMul, Marloes
dc.creatorOwusu, Afua
dc.date2024-11
dc.date2023-09-30T22:15:54Z
dc.date2023-09-30T22:15:54Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T18:43:16Z
dc.descriptionOccurrence of frequent dryspell is affecting agriculture; productivity in the semi-arid areas of West Africa such as northern Ghana. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of dryspells on rainfed maize (early and late maturing), millet, and sorghum yields in a savanna agro-ecosystem in northern Ghana, and suggest management options for reducing their impacts. Long-term dryspell analyses were carried out using INSTAT + v3.37 on climatic data collected over a 30- to 50-year period. The probabilities of dryspells exceeding 7, 10, 14 and 21 days were calculated for crop types during different physiological growth stages and growing seasons of varying lengths. CROPWAT 8.0 was used to determine effective rainfall, crop water requirement, crop water deficit, and changes in yield. The results showed that 80% of the rains begin between the second week of May and the third week of June in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The result also revealed that more dryspells occurred after the initial growth stage of crops. During mid and late stages of crop growth there was a 50% probability of dryspells greater than seven days for early maturing maize and millet and of > 70% for sorghum. Late maturing maize experienced higher crop water deficit than early maturing maize. The result also showed that significant yield reduction (36% reduction in late maturing maize at both Navrongo and Zuarungu) occurs if planting is done before May 21. Similarly, 25 and 23% yield losses, were observed in sorghum at Navrongo and Zuarungu, respectively. We therefore recommend (i) early maturing crop varieties, (ii) adjusting sowing dates based on seasonal climate information, and (iii) improving water management.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/132086
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/163643
dc.languageen
dc.publisherSpringer
dc.rightsLimited Access
dc.sourceAdimassu, Zenebe; Mul, Marloes; Owusu, Afua. 2024. Intra-seasonal rainfall variability and crop yield in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(11):29249-29268. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03861-2]
dc.subjectrainfall patterns
dc.subjectseasonal variation
dc.subjectcrop yield
dc.subjectwater requirements
dc.subjectdry spells
dc.subjectrainfed farming
dc.subjectmaize
dc.subjectmillets
dc.subjectsorghum
dc.subjectsowing date
dc.subjectwater deficit
dc.subjectwater management
dc.subjectclimatic data
dc.subjectsoil profiles
dc.subjectmodels
dc.titleIntra-seasonal rainfall variability and crop yield in the Upper East Region of Ghana
dc.typeJournal Article

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