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Plastic waste in agriculture, particularly from polyethylene mulch, poses significant environmental challenges. Synthetic biodegradable mulch has emerged as a sustainable alternative, derived from renewable resources such as thermoplastic starch, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and copolyesters. This review explores the benefits of synthetic biodegradable mulch, its environmental impact, and the policy landscape to support its adoption. A review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on three aspects: (1) the performance of synthetic biodegradable mulch in crop production and pest control, (2) the environmental, socioeconomic, and climate resilience compared to polyethylene mulch, and (3) the institutional policies that promote synthetic biodegradable mulch adoption. The analysis considered comparative data on yield, pest management, and sustainability metrics. Synthetic biodegradable mulch performs similarly or better than polyethylene mulch in various agricultural practices. It enhances crop yield, quality, and weed suppression, acts as a physical barrier against pests and diseases, reduces chemical usage, and aids in water and nutrient management. Moreover, synthetic biodegradable mulch offers environmental benefits by reducing plastic waste, microplastic pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation. While synthetic biodegradable mulch provides numerous advantages, adoption faces challenges such as high initial costs, farmer preferences, and the regulatory framework. Effective institutional policies and increased consumer demand could drive wider adoption, offering potential for improved livelihoods among small farmers while promoting environmental sustainability.

Mulching is a widely used agricultural practice that can significantly affect crop growth, yield, and economic outcomes, particularly in regions with varying climatic conditions. The present study evaluated the influence of various mulching practices on the growth, yield, and economic viability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation in Tanzania. The study was conducted across three sites in the eastern agro-ecological zone of Tanzania: Kipera (E4 200–1000 m.a.s.l.), Mgeta (E14 500–000 m.a.s.l.), and Ndole (E2 500–1200 m.a.s.l.). Four mulching treatments—polythene mulch, synthetic biodegradable mulch, rice husk mulch, and a control group—were applied to assess their effects on plant growth and yield components. Results revealed significant variations in growth parameters and yield components across sites. Notably, polythene mulch and synthetic biodegradable mulch consistently outperformed the other treatments. Polythene mulch resulted in an average plant height of 68.37 cm, followed closely by synthetic biodegradable mulch at 68.26 cm, both significantly (p < 0.05) taller than rice husk mulch (62.79 cm) and the control (57.74 cm). Canopy coverage was highest with polythene mulch at 61.7%, followed by synthetic biodegradable mulch at 60.5%. Grain yields did not differ significantly between synthetic biodegradable mulch (2.64 t ha−1) and polythene mulch (2.67 t ha−1). Economic analysis indicated that synthetic biodegradable mulch offers promising marginal returns (MR: Tshs. 3,787,450 or USD 1,469) and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.91, compared to polythene mulch (MR: Tshs. 4,114,050 or USD 1,595, BCR: 2.06). These findings suggest that synthetic biodegradable mulch is a sustainable and economically viable option for enhancing common bean production across diverse agro-ecological settings in Tanzania.

AbstractThis study aimed to analyze the appropriateness of land in Tungi Farm based in Morogoro District, Tanzania for sunflower production using a Geographic Information System (GIS). To determine appropriate areas for sunflower production, three criteria: soil properties (pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, available phosphorus, potassium, and soil texture), topography (slope and altitude), and climate (temperature and rainfall) were selected from the literature and employed in suitability analysis. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method of the Multi-Criteria Evaluation was used to assign a weight to each criterion as per Saaty’s Table. Cumulative weights for each criterion were used in coming up with output maps using ArcGIS 10.8. Each criterion was reclassified and assigned a weighted value. Organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and potassium were found to be adequate. Topography and climate were suitable for the sunflower production. The results from land suitability gave S1 (vastly suitable), S2 (relatively suitable), and S3 (minimally suitable) of about 51% (1022 ha), 34% (671 ha), and 15% (307 ha), respectively. The suitability map in this study could be vital and helpful in management decision options. However, the criteria considered for land suitability evaluation were mainly based on the biophysical environment, and, hence, further studies can be carried out by integrating socioeconomic parameters to improve the suitability results of the study area.

Salt-affected soils have serious implications for agricultural land quality and productivity, leading to a reduction in the net cultivable area available for food production. This issue has emerged as one of the foremost global challenges in recent years, impacting both food security and environmental sustainability. This research focuses on soil characterizations conducted in three irrigation schemes to understand the types, distribution, and nature of salt-affected soils. Auger observations served as the basic methodology for soil unit delineation in this study. Twelve representative soil pits with a depth of more than 160 cm were described, and undisturbed and disturbed samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. The schemes were characterized by low levels of available phosphorus, organic carbon, and total nitrogen, as well as variations in exchangeable bases. Furthermore, 37.5% of the analyzed horizons highlighted the presence of salt-affected soils. Sodium was the predominant cation, followed by magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Likewise, HCO3− was the dominant anion, followed by Cl− and SO42−. The results of this study reveal the existence of two types of salt-affected soil. Uturo irrigation scheme had sodic soils, while the Ndungu irrigation scheme had saline-sodic soils. Additionally, both sodic and saline-sodic soils have been discovered in the Mawala irrigation scheme. The root cause of this challenge is inherent soil conditions, exacerbated by inadequate drainage infrastructure. Therefore, measures such as the application of gypsum followed by salt leaching, improving soil drainage by incorporating organic matter, improving drainage infrastructure, and using rice-tolerant varieties are recommended to mitigate salt stress and improve soil fertility. It is imperative to establish a robust framework for continuous monitoring and regular assessment of soil health to enable timely interventions and informed decisions for sustainable agricultural management.

AbstractIn Tanzania, land degradation has been ranked as the top environmental problem for more than 62 years after independence. Land degradation is a catalyst for poverty increment in rural people’s livelihoods by contributing up to a 48% increase in poverty of this population. This paper highlights land degradation as a key constraint to sunflower production while looking at the potential role of Geographic Information System (GIS) in revitalizing the sector. The review focuses on Tanzania, where sunflower production is done mainly by smallholder farmers as a cash crop and a source of vegetable oil. Sunflower production is threatened by land degradation in the form of nutrient mining that decreases the fertility of the soil, hence lowering its potential. Such degradation is mainly contributed to by continuous crop cultivation without replenishment of the soil fertility, crop removal after harvesting, and low fertilizer input. This calls for the adoption of modern systems of utilizing GIS, in assessing the suitability potential of the land giving the best decision in managing and adopting the right soil management practices for increasing and sustaining the productivity of the farmland concerning sunflower production in Tanzania.

The resilience of rice production to floods is a crucial aspect of agricultural development in flood-prone regions. However, little is known about the farming practices and challenges of rice farmers in two river basins in Tanzania: Lower-Rufiji and Kilombero, where rice is the main crop grown. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of farmers in these two rice-growing floodplains regarding the impact of floods on lowland rice production and farmer livelihoods, and the strategies they use to cope with floods. The study used a mixed-methods approach that involved household surveys, key informant interviews, and transect walks to collect data from 180 rice farmers and 14 experts and community leaders. The data analysis revealed that floods were the dominant stressor affecting rice production, occurring mostly during the long rainy season and experienced by all farmers in both locations. Floods not only caused significant crop losses, especially in Lower-Rufiji where farmers reported losing between 75 and 100% of their yield in cases of extreme floods, but also made it difficult to establish and manage crops, leading to crop land abandonment. Floods also affected the livelihoods of rice farmers by forcing them to abandon, rent, or sell their farms. Coexistence of floods with other biotic and abiotic stresses such as crop diseases and droughts also limited the use of short maturing high yielding rice varieties. Farmers have adopted on-farm strategies such as adjusting planting schedules, using different varieties of rice, changing to other crops or activities after the floods to cope with floods, but these practices face numerous challenges. The study recommends the development of early warning systems, breeding for flood-tolerant rice varieties, introgression of tolerance traits to multiple stresses and improving crop establishment methods to enhance the resilience of farmers to floods and other extreme climate events.

In Tanzania, 71% of rice is grown in a rainfed lowland rice production ecosystem, primarily in river basins where extreme weather events like floods are frequent. For a six-year period (2017–2022), flood mapping was conducted using Sentinel-1 data in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, utilizing change detection and thresholding methodology. In addition to flood mapping, land use and land cover (LULC) were also analyzed using Sentinel-2 data in GEE, employing the Random Forest (RF) algorithm for classification. The aim was to understand the spatiotemporal extent of floods in two study locations. The resulting flood maps achieved an overall accuracy (OA) greater than 90% for all sites and study years. The findings revealed that agricultural land was the predominant land use/cover in both sub-basins, and floods were widespread in both regions. The study highlighted the interannual variability in flood extent, both spatially and temporally. Specifically, at the Ikwiriri site, floods were more extensive in 2020, covering 54.95% of the cultivated area, while in 2017, the minimum flood extent occurred, affecting 14% of the cultivated area. Similarly, at the Mngeta site, extensive floods were observed in 2020, with floods impacting 5.53% of the cultivated areas, while lower flood extents were observed in 2017, affecting 1.49% of the cultivated areas. Furthermore, the study demonstrated distinct spatiotemporal patterns of floods in both locations, with areas in proximity to rivers and wetlands experiencing more frequent floods. The research showcased the capabilities of the GEE cloud computation platform for flood inundation mapping, emphasizing its potential for enhancing our understanding of rice-producing environments. The generated flood maps can be utilized to guide the selection of areas for trials of flood-tolerant rice varieties and the dissemination of technologies such as flood-tolerant rice varieties, contributing to the resilience of rice farmers in these two floodplains.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second cereal food crop grown in Tanzania after maize (Zea mays L.) and covers approximately 18% of the agricultural land. Soil degradation due to intensive cultivation along with low organic matter input and nutrient imbalance has led to a decline in rice crop yields. This study was conducted to characterize, classify, and assess the fertility status of soils in two rice irrigation schemes of Morogoro region in Tanzania. The data obtained through this study will contribute significantly to land use planning and will facilitate the transfer of agro-technology and other development of the regions with similar ecological conditions. The studied pedons were named MKU-P1 and MKD-P1 for Mkula and Mkindo irrigation schemes, respectively. A total of seven composite soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected for soil fertility assessments. Landform, soil morphological features, parent material, natural vegetation, drainage, erosion, and laboratory data were used to classify the soils in their respective order as per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy and the World Reference Base (WRB) soil classification systems. Results showed that the pedons were sandy clay loam in the topsoil and sandy clay to clay in the subsoil; soil reaction ranged from medium acid (pH 5.7) to strongly alkaline (pH 8.6). The topsoil and subsoil nutrients of the studied pedons including available K+, total N, soil organic matter, and organic carbon are low. Based on the USDA Soil Taxonomy, MKU-P1 is classified as Inceptisols cumulic humaquepts and MKD-P1 as Vertisols Fluvaquentic endoaquerts corresponding to Subaquatic fluvisols (loamic, oxyaquic) and Irragric vertisols (gleyic) in the WRB, respectively. The pedons were ranked as suitable for rice production. However, the chemical fertility of the soil is ranked as low fertile associated with deficient in total N; available P, K+, and Ca2+ with excessive iron and manganese; and likely to pose toxicity to crops. The application of organic and mineral amendments in recommended rates and timing for N and P is therefore essential to increase the nutrient content of these soils and minimize losses. Salinity in the subsurface pedon MKD-P1 needs to be taken into future consideration.

Mulching is a widely used agricultural practice that can significantly affect crop growth, yield, and economic outcomes, particularly in regions with varying climatic conditions. The present study evaluated the influence of various mulching practices on the growth, yield, and economic viability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation in Tanzania. The study was conducted across three sites in the eastern agro-ecological zone of Tanzania: Kipera (E4 200-1000 m.a.s.l.), Mgeta (E14 500-000 m.a.s.l.), and Ndole (E2 500-1200 m.a.s.l.). Four mulching treatments--polythene mulch, synthetic biodegradable mulch, rice husk mulch, and a control group--were applied to assess their effects on plant growth and yield components. Results revealed significant variations in growth parameters and yield components across sites. Notably, polythenemulch and synthetic biodegradablemulch consistently outperformed the other treatments. Polythene mulch resulted in an average plant height of 68.37cm, followed closely by synthetic biodegradable mulch at 68.26cm, both significantly (p < 0.05) taller than rice husk mulch (62.79cm) and the control (57.74cm). Canopy coverage was highest with polythene mulch at 61.7%, followed by synthetic biodegradable mulch at 60.5%. Grain yields did not differ significantly between synthetic biodegradable mulch (2.64 t ha-1) and polythene mulch (2.67 t ha-1). Economic analysis indicated that synthetic biodegradable mulch offers promising marginal returns (MR: Tshs. 3,787,450 or USD 1,469) and a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.91, compared to polythene mulch (MR: Tshs. 4,114,050 or USD 1,595, BCR: 2.06). These findings suggest that synthetic biodegradable mulch is a sustainable and economically viable option for enhancing common bean production across diverse agro-ecological settings in Tanzania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste in agriculture, particularly from polyethylene mulch, poses significant environmental challenges. Synthetic biodegradable mulch has emerged as a sustainable alternative, derived from renewable resources such as thermoplastic starch, polylactic acid, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and copolyesters. This review explores the benefits of synthetic biodegradable mulch, its environmental impact, and the policy landscape to support its adoption. A review of existing literature was conducted, focusing on three aspects: (1) the performance of synthetic biodegradable mulch in crop production and pest control, (2) the environmental, socioeconomic, and climate resilience compared to polyethylene mulch, and (3) the institutional policies that promote synthetic biodegradable mulch adoption. The analysis considered comparative data on yield, pest management, and sustainability metrics. Synthetic biodegradable mulch performs similarly or better than polyethylene mulch in various agricultural practices. It enhances crop yield, quality, and weed suppression, acts as a physical barrier against pests and diseases, reduces chemical usage, and aids in water and nutrient management. Moreover, synthetic biodegradable mulch offers environmental benefits by reducing plastic waste, microplastic pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation. While synthetic biodegradable mulch provides numerous advantages, adoption faces challenges such as high initial costs, farmer preferences, and the regulatory framework. Effective institutional policies and increased consumer demand could drive wider adoption, offering potential for improved livelihoods among small farmers while promoting environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resilience of rice production to floods is a crucial aspect of agricultural development in flood-prone regions. However, little is known about the farming practices and challenges of rice farmers in two river basins in Tanzania: Lower-Rufiji and Kilombero, where rice is the main crop grown. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of farmers in these two rice-growing floodplains regarding the impact of floods on lowland rice production and farmer livelihoods, and the strategies they use to cope with floods. The study used a mixed-methods approach that involved household surveys, key informant interviews, and transect walks to collect data from 180 rice farmers and 14 experts and community leaders. The data analysis revealed that floods were the dominant stressor affecting rice production, occurring mostly during the long rainy season and experienced by all farmers in both locations. Floods not only caused significant crop losses, especially in Lower- Rufiji where farmers reported losing between 75 and 100% of their yield in cases of extreme floods, but also made it difficult to establish and manage crops, leading to crop land abandonment. Floods also affected the livelihoods of rice farmers by forcing them to abandon, rent, or sell their farms. Coexistence of floods with other biotic and abiotic stresses such as crop diseases and droughts also limited the use of short maturing high yielding rice varieties. Farmers have adopted on-farm strategies such as adjusting planting schedules, using different varieties of rice, changing to other crops or activities after the floods to cope with floods, but these practices face numerous challenges. The study recommends the development of early warning systems, breeding for flood-tolerant rice varieties, introgression of tolerance traits to multiple stresses and improving crop establishment methods to enhance the resilience of farmers to floods and other extreme climate events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Over the last three decades, there has been worldwide recognition of peer support contributions to improve mental healthcare provision. However, in the current literature, little attention has been paid to exploring perspectives of peer supporters on their involvement in mental health services provision. The purpose of the present study was to examine peer supporters’ perspectives on the implementation of a transitional discharge model (TDM), an intervention for the community integration of people with mental illness. Methods This paper represents ethnographic qualitative data collected as part of a study that used mixed methods to evaluate the implementation of TDM across nine hospitals from the Province of Ontario, in Canada. The study involved a sample of 66 peer supporters, who were recruited from participating Consumer/Survivor Initiative Organizations and Peer Support Programs. The study collected data using two sets of focus groups, which were held at 6 months and 1-year post implementation. Data analysis used an ethnography model of qualitative analysis. Results Peer supporters expressed that their involvement in mental healthcare enhanced clients’ autonomy and hope about their recovery, as well as established a safety net and reduced hospital readmissions. Peer supporters articulated that they assumed several roles to facilitate clients’ transition from hospital to the community. These roles included: assisting clients in building their capacity and developing healthy routines; attending regular on-ward and community meetings; accompanying clients to their appointments; and working with clients to set goals for their recovery. The study showed hindrances to effective implementation of peer support programs, such as a lack of understanding and appreciation of peer supporter roles, lack of careful allocation of peer supporters to clients, and an absence of appropriate protocols for ensuring the safety and supervision of the peer supporters. Conclusions Results of the TDM implementation demonstrated that involving peer supporters in mental healthcare delivery may benefit clients by enhancing autonomy and hope about their recovery, as well as establishing a safety net and reducing hospital readmissions. Results from the study have the potential to inform healthcare professionals and managers of strategies for developing effective peer support programs.