Climate Change as It Impacts A Sub-Saharan Staple: A Case Study of Bamenda, Cameroon’s Colocasia Esculenta
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract: In this paper, I demystify the causality of Bamenda’s prominent weather elements, especially in conformity with her annual solar-zenith times, a function of sheer latitudinal location. Then I investigate the sensitivity of climate (change) impacts there on colocasia yields, and annual colocasia planting times (growing degree days), in the event to clear the fog of confusion enshrouding the minds of researchers regarding the disappearance of the plant. Research on the afore-cited growing plight has uncovered data that is skewed toward drastic weather trends, an effect of global climate change, as its main cause; it is answerable for the slothful but assured diminution of this once perennial crop. This paper, thus, as is my design, actively challenges Bamenda’s climate as pertains to this event, strongly critiquing any material that bespeaks or even hints otherwise. In order to corroborate the aforementioned hypothesis, a somewhat extensive comparative analytic study was carried out around the Mankon, Mendankwe, and Nkwen environs, but with special emphasis on the Mankon area, as it is the embodiment of Bamenda’s both peasant and beau-monde societies. Data was collected on sunshine, temperature and precipitation. Also, colocasia yields were simulated pertaining to management conditions of both (i) before what is now considered, at least nationally, as effective climate change in action, and (ii) in present (‘climate change’) times. Distortions, as were ascertained, in carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen proportions in the soil, make it a recalcitrant carbon store for colocasia esculenta. Also, an until now concealed fact of the plant’s greater dependency on reliable water supply relative to good soil-nitrogen levels was revealed. A warming/ drying trend thus, a direct effect of global warming, is proving a pernicious effect on the crop. I therefore conclude that the recent disappearance of colocasia esculenta in the Bamenda area skew more toward impactful climate change ramifications than to its overexploitation.
Downloads
References
Change, O. C. 2001. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group I: Summary for Policymakers.
Craufurd, P. Q., Vadez, V., Jagadish. Prasad, P. & Zaman- Allah, M., 2003, Crop science experiments designed to inform crop modelling. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 170, 8-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2011.09.003
Craufurd PQ and Wheeler TR. 2009. Climate change and the flowering time of annual Crops. Flowering Newsletter Review, Journal of Experimental Botany 60(9): 2529 – 2539. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erp196
Dale, R. F, Coelho, D. T. And Gallo K.P., 1980. Prediction of daily green leaf area index for corn. Agron. J. 72, 99-1005 99 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1980.00021962007200060032x
Deo, P. C., Tyagi, A. P., Taylor, M., Becker, D. K. & Harding, R. M. 2009. Improving taro (Colocasia esculenta var. esculenta) production using biotechnological approaches. The South Pacific Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 27, 6-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/SP09002
Allen JR, L. H. & Prasad, P. V. 2004. Crop responses to elevated carbon dioxide. Encyclopedia of plant and crop science. Marcel Dekker, New York, 346-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1081/E-EPCS-120005566
Amosa. F. 1993. Early- season interspecific competition in dry land taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott), Thesis (MSc), University of Hawaii. Honolulu.
Armed, I. 2014, Evolutionary Dynamics in Taro (Colocasia esculenta L.), Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Allen, R. G., Pereira, L. S., Raes, D. & Smith, M. 1998. Crop evapotranspiration-Guidelines for computing crop water requirements-FAO Irrigation and drainage paper 56. FAO, Rome, 300, D05109
Balci, O. 1997. Principles of simulation model validation, verification, and testing. Transactions of the Society for Computer Simulation International14, 3-12.
Bellocchi, G., Confalonieri, R. and Donatelli, M. 2006. Crop modelling and validation: integration of Irene DLL in the warm environment. RivistaItallana Di Agrometeorogia, 2006, 35-39.
Adams R. M., Hurd B. H, Lenhart. S, Leary N. 1998. Effect of global climate change on agriculture: an interpretative review, volume 11, Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, Oregon State, Corvallis. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr011019
Bèlanger, G., Walsh, J.R., Richards, J.E., Milburn, P.H. and Ziadi, N. 2002. Nitrogen fertilisation and irrigation affects tuber characteristics of two potato cultivars. American Journal of Potato Research 79 (4): 269-279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986360
Bennett, M and Harewood, J. 2003, Vanuatu, 4th Ed, Lonely Planet guide book, Melbourne. 97
Ben Nouna B, Katerji N, Mastroilli M. 2003. Using the CERES-Maize model in a semi-arid Mediterranean environment. New modelling of leaf area and water stress functions. Eur. J. Agron. 19: 115-123. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00023-0
Bhatt, R. M and Rao Srinivasa, N.K. 2005. Influence of pod load response of okra to water stress. Indian J. Plant Physiol. 10, 54-59.
Bown, D. 2000. Aroids. Plants of the Arum Family, 2ndedn Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.
Booltink HWG, van Alphen BJ, Batchelor WD, Paz JO, Stoorvogel JJ, Vargas R 2001. Tools for optimizing management of spatially-variable fields. Agric. Syst. 70: 445-476. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-521X(01)00055-5
Booltink H.W.G, Verhagen J 1997. Using decision support systems to optimize barley management on spatial variable soil. In: Kropff, M., et al. (Eds.), Applications of Systems Approaches at the Field Level, vol. 2. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 219-233. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0754-1_15
Bradbury, J.H and Holloway W.D., 1988. Chemistry of Tropical Root Crops: Significance for Nutrition and Agriculture in the Pacific. Australian Centre for international Agriculture Research, Canberra. ACT.2601.
Brisson, N., Gary, C., Justes, E., Roche, R., Mary, B., Ripoche, D., Zimmer, D., Sierra, J., Bertuzzi, P., Burger, P., Bussie`re, F., Cabidoche, M. Y., Cellier, P., Debaeke, P., Gaudille`re, P. J., He´nault, C., Maraux, F., Seguin, B. & Sinoquet, H. 2003. An overview of the crop model STICS. European Journal of Agronomy, 18, 309-332. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1161-0301(02)00110-7
Brisson, N., Dorel, M. & Ozier-Lafontaine, H. Year. Effects of soil management and water regime on the banana growth between planting and flowering Simulation using the STICS model. In: GALAN, S. V., ed. Proceedings of the International Symposium Banan in Subtropics, ActaHort, 1998. 229-238. 98 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.490.23
Bruckler, L., Lafolie, F., Ruy, S., Granier, J. & Beaudequin, D. 2000. Modelling the agricultural and environmental consequences of non-uniform irrigation on a maize crop. Agronomies, 20, 609-624. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/agro:2000154
Carberry, P. S., Adiku, S. G. K., McCown, R. L. & Keating, B. A. 1996. Application of the APSIM cropping systems model to intercropping systems. In: ITO, C., Johansen, C., Adu-gyamfi, K., Katayama, K., Kumar-Rao, J.V. D. K. & Rego, T. J. (eds.) Dynamics of roots and nitrogen in cropping systems of the semi-arid tropics. Japan Int. Res. Centre Agric. Sci.
Castrignano A, Katerji, N., Karam, F., Mastrorilli, M., Hamdy, A., 1998. A modified version of CERES-Maize model for predicting crop response to salinity stress. Ecol. Modell. 111: 107-120 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3800(98)00084-2
Chambers, C., 2012. The South Pacific Climate now and future: Crop Diversity – a tool for managing climate variability report. SPC, Suva, Fiji
De la Pena, R.S. 1978. Upland taro. Home Garden Vegetable Series 18, Hawaii Coop. Extension Services Res. 1; 183-190. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(78)90021-7
De la Pena, R.S., and Melchor, F.M. 1984. Water use and efficiency in lowland taro production. P. 97-101. In Proc.Symp. Intl. Soc. Tropical Root Crops, Lima, Peru, 21- 23 Feb., 1983
De la Pena, R. S., 1967. Effects of different levels of N. P. K fertilization on the growth and yield of Upland and Lowland Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Var. Lehua), Thesis (PHD), University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
Nicholson, S. E., Kim, J. (2018). "The West African Monsoon: Dynamics, Predictability, and Impacts." Climate Dynamics, 50(1-2).
Zhou, L., Zhang, Y. (2017). "Impact of the African Monsoon on Climate and Agriculture in West Africa." Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.
López-Carr, D., Bilsborrow, R. E. (2018). "Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptation in Africa: The Role of the African Monsoon." Global Environmental Change.
Sultan, B., Gaetani, M. (2016). "Agricultural Impacts of Climate Variability in West Africa: A Review." Global Change Biology.
Mastrorillo, M., et al. (2016). "The Role of Climate Variability in Agricultural Production in West Africa: Evidence from Regional Models." Environmental Research Letters.
Boko, M., et al. (2016). "Climate Change and Variability in West Africa: Impacts on Agriculture and Food Security." Climate Research.
Mastrorillo, M., et al. (2016). "Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Yields in West Africa: A Review of the Evidence." Environmental Research Letters.
Kouadio, L., Jalloh, A. (2019). "Climate Change Effects on Crop Yields in West Africa: A Review." Environmental Science Policy, 92, 184-194.
Fischer, G., et al. (2017). "Climate Change and Food Security in Africa: A Review of the Evidence." Food Security, 9(3), 497-511.
Lobell, D. B., et al. (2019). "Climate Change and Global Crop Yields: Implications for Food Security." Nature Climate Change, 9(2), 123-129.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in our journal are licensed under CC-BY 4.0, which permits authors to retain copyright of their work. This license allows for unrestricted use, sharing, and reproduction of the articles, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and the source.