3.1. Climatic conditions
Rainfall was greater in Nkhotakota than Dowa in all three years
(Fig. 1a). Nkhotakota
field sites received 1235 mm, 1750 mm, and
1171 mm of rainfall in 2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14, respectively.
In 2012/13, large rainfall events between days 100 and 103 caused
waterlogging in all cropping systems at 2 of 4
field sites. In Dowa,
field sites received 761 mm, 697 mm, and 981 mm of rainfall in
2011/12, 2012/13, and 2013/14, respectively.
In Nkhotakota, daily temperatures ranged between 25 C and
30 C throughout the growing season, except in 2011/12 when
temperatures dropped below 25 C in the second half of the season
(Fig. 1b). In Dowa, daily temperatures were approximately 25 C
early in each season and decreased to below 20 C late in the
season. Temperatures in Nkhotakota were 3–8 C higher than
Dowa throughout each growing season. In both districts, vapor
pressure deficits were high in December of each year, declined with
the onset of rains in late December and January, and then steadily
increased as the growing season progressed (Fig. 1c). Vapor
pressure deficits were greater in Nkhotakota than Dowa, and the