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Climate,Vegetation and Agro-Ecological Zones.....

 

  Climate Zone|Vegetation Zone|Temperature|Agro-Ecological Zone  

Climate

Dodoma Region has a savanna type of climate, which is characterized by a long dry season lasting between late April and early December, and a short single wet season occurring during the remaining months. In the long dry season, persistent desiccating winds and low humidity contribute to high evapo-transpiration and to soil erosion.

The average rainfall for Dodoma town is 570mm, and about 85 percent of this falls in the months between December and April. Rainfall figures are higher in the more agriculturally productive parts of Mpwapwa and Kondoa Districts. Apart from the rainfall being relatively low, it is rather unpredictable in frequency and amount. It is this unreliable rainfall, which has imposed a pattern of risk aversion in traditional agriculture and is a serious constraint on present efforts to improve crop yields.

Temperature

Temperature in the region varies according to altitude but generally the average maximum and minimum is 31oC and 18oC respectively. In June – August, temperatures are at times very high with hot afternoons up to 35oC and chilly nights on hilly areas down to 10oC.

Vegetation

The characteristic vegetation of the region is of “bush” or thicket type, which is widespread throughout the area wherever the natural plant cover has been altered by biotic factors. Depressions and seasonally wet areas with impeded drainage support grasses and sometimes a mixture of grasses mixed with woody plants. Wherever the natural vegetation has been altered by agricultural activities, regenerating bushes mixed with annual herbs and grasses forming a type of induced vegetation. Most of the hill ranges, steep slopes and protected forest reserves are covered with large woody plants, which form good watershed protective covers

Agro-Ecological Zones

A good part of Dodoma Region is dry and has flat lowlands; hence its agro-ecological zones are not clearly demarcated as it is in other Regions in Tanzania. However, due to differences in climatic conditions, for practical purposes, the region can be sub-divided into three agro-ecological zones.

ZONES
RAINFALL
TOPOGRAPY AND SOIL
I
 300mm-500mm Covers the Masai Steppe in Northeast part of Kondoa, Southern part of Dodoma Rural and Southwest part of Mpwapwa District. The area is dominated by dry, flat or undulating plain with low population. Rainfall is very unreliable. The soils are redish-brown loamy sand. Grey clays in depressions. Tsetse-flies are also found in these areas. Major crops in this areas are sorghum, pearl millet, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, Simsim, grapes, and sunflower
II
 500mm-700mm Central and Southern part of Kondoa District, Northern part of Dodoma District, the whole part of Kongwa District and part of Mpwapwa. The area has dark-brown and dark-redish loamy sands. Major crops are maize, sorghum, groundnuts, grapes, sunflower, cassava, and simsim.
III
 700mm-1000mm Central part of Mpwapwa District, Bereko highlands in Kondoa District. This area has deep dark-reddish brown clay loams and black-clay soil in depressions and valleys.Major crops are maize, sunflower, beans, vegetables and bananas

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