Start, end and dry spells of the growing season in semi-arid southern Zimbabwe

Smallholder agriculture in semi-arid Zimbabwe is dependant on seasonal characteristics of rainfall. The determination of start, end and length of the growing season, and the pattern of dry spells during the season is useful information for the planning of land preparation and planting activities. This study was designed to assess whether there has been any changes in the start, end and length of growing season and the pattern of 14 and 21 day dry spells during the season. Daily rainfall data were collected from five meteorological stations located in southern Zimbabwe. Results indicated that no significant changes in the start, end and subsequent length of growing season have occurred over the past 50–74 years. The number of wet days per growing season has not changed significantly either. There are high chances of 14 and 21 day dry spells during the peak rainfall months. A strong correlation exists between start and end of the growing season in agroecological region V. We conclude that growing seasons have not changed significantly over the past 50–74 years in southern Zimbabwe. There is scope in exploring rainwater management technologies to reduce the impact of dry spells in rainfed cropping systems