PREDICTING IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATER REQUIREMENTS FOR DIRECTLY SOWN RAIN-FED SWEET POTATO IN THE SEMI-ARID KATUMANI REGION, KENYA

<p><strong>Background:</strong> In the wake of changing climate, current water crisis has increasing relevance for human race, hence estimation is an integral part planning, development and management resources country based on several meteorological parameters. <strong>Hypothesis. </strong>No significant changes in requirements sweet potato crop next 20 years Katumani, Kenya. <strong>Methodology:</strong> The study predicted implications climate change short rain seasons between 1991-2016 (baseline climate) future from 2020-2039 (climate change) Katumani with aid CROPWAT 8.0 model. Crop Water Requirements (CWR) were projected two scenarios: i) Average rainfall temperature baseline period (1991-2016), ii) 2039 Relative Concentration Pathways (RCP); 8.5 2.6 scenarios, adopting global circulation models (GCM) IPSL-CM5A-MR GFDL-CM3 predicting monthly temperature, respectively. To achieve effective allocation data requirements, irrigation withdrawals, soil types conditions gathered area. <strong>Assumptions:</strong> assumed no relating to production future. <strong>Results: </strong>Sweet requirement modelled at 579.9mm whereas under RCP be 634.1 639.3mm, Averagely, a 16.7% decrease may increase overall WR by 10.2%. This due increased reduced rainfall. <strong>Implication: </strong>Short season most appropriate fed crops Katumani. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> useful explaining adverse impacts mostly needs helping plan manage many other arid regions.</p><p> </p><p><strong><br /></strong></p>