Abstract:
Studying climate change and variability at a local scale is curial for devising proper
strategies that enhance adaptive capacity. In view of this, this study was conducted in
Welmera District, to assess; the potential impacts of climate change on faba bean (Vicia faba
L.) production. Historical climate and crop yield data were obtained from National
Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia and Holeta Agricultural Research Center respectively.
After quality control, consistency check and homogeneity test on rainfall and temperature
data; trend, variability, correlation and regression analysis were carried out by statistical
software InStat_v3.36, XLSTAT2014 and SPSS_v20 were used. Future climate data was
downscaled using the output of ensemble by four GCMs climate models (BSS-CSM1-1,
HadGEM2-ES, MIROC-ESM and NorESM1-M) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The time period
centered 2030s and 2050s were considered. Besides this, soil and crop data of two faba bean
varieties (Gora and Tumsa) were used to assess future climate impacts in the study area. The
results indicated that the mean start of main rainy season (JJAS) for Holeta station started on
the 3rd decade of May. The annual, kiremt, belg and bega seasonal rainfall amount were found
to be decreased by a factor of 8.53, 4.7, 2.32 and 0.8 mm/year respectively. The mean
maximum and minimum temperature revealed an increasing trend by 0.005 and 0.06 0C
changes/year. Moreover, the correlation of kiremt start of rain and kiremt rainy day had
negative impact on Gora yield with (r=-0.407 and -0.369) respectively. Similarly, kiremt start
of rainy season and mean air temperature had negative impacts (r=-0.482 and r=-0.605)
where moderate and strong correlated with Tumsa yields and statistically significant at p-
value levels (0.01 and 0.05) in the study area. The coefficient of determination was analyzed
with (R2 =56.0% and 74.4%) of total variance in Gora and Tumsa yields respectively were
explained jointly by climatic events. The future projection of highest mean monthly rainfall
and air temperature changes occur during faba bean growing season will in July (147.3%)
mm/months and August (0.24 0C/month) under RCP8.5. However, in August and September
mean monthly rainfall will be dramatically decrease by 50.85 % and 31.05% mm/month in the
2020 up to 2079 under RCP 8.5 and RCP 4.5 respectively. This could negatively affect faba
bean yield in the area, because this months are the critical stages (flowering, grain filling and
harvesting period). Tumsa yield will significantly decline by 24.19% under RCP8.5 mid-
century. If future study consider using different climate and crop models with more
appropriate adaptation management options incorporate is better for further study
