Impact of invasive on maize and cassava growth in East Usambara, Tanzania.

The impacts of invasive alien plant species on native plants are generally well documented, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying their impacts on crop growth. A better understanding of immediate as well as legacy effects and of direct and indirect impacts of invasive alien plant species is essential for an improved management of invaded cropland. We investigated how impacts the growth of two subsistence crops (maize and cassava) through competition for resources, allelopathy and the indirect plant-plant interactions.

Analysis of spatial and temporal trend of hydro-climatic parameters in the Kilombero River Catchment, Tanzania.

Inadequate knowledge on actual water availability, have raised social-economic conflicts that necessitate proper water management. This requires a better understanding of spatial-temporal trends of hydro-climatic variables as the main contributor to available water for use by sectors of economy. The study has analysed the trend of hydro-climatic variables viz.

Observed controls on resilience of groundwater to climate variability in sub-Saharan Africa.

Groundwater in sub-Saharan Africa supports livelihoods and poverty alleviation, maintains vital ecosystems, and strongly influences terrestrial water and energy budgets. Yet the hydrological processes that govern groundwater recharge and sustainability-and their sensitivity to climatic variability-are poorly constrained. Given the absence of firm observational constraints, it remains to be seen whether model-based projections of decreased water resources in dry parts of the region are justified.