Rainfall

Impact of Rainfall Variability on the Yield of Sorghum and Farmers’ Adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAP) Towards Food Security in Bauchi State, Nigeria (Published)

This study assessed the impact of rainfall variability on the yield of sorghum and farmers’ adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAP) towards food security in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Rainfall and sorghum yield data for 30 years (1991 – 2021) were used for the study. Three hundred and eighty-two farmers were purposively sampled using Krejcie and Morgan’s sampling method. Questionnaire survey was used to elicit information from the farmers. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to show the relationship between rainfall variability and the yield of sorghum in the study area. The trend lines of total annual rainfall and sorghum yield data shows an increase in rainfall and increase in the yield of sorghum. Results of the Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) at 0.05 significance level shows an indirect/negative and non-perfect relationship (r=-0.3035) between rainfall and sorghum yield. The results further showed that increase in rainfall amounts led to decrease in sorghum yield at Bauchi; sorghum yield appeared to drop below normal towards the end of the period reviewed. Findings also showed that the farmers in the area adopt CSAP such as: the use of organic manure, mixed cropping, use of improved seed varieties and the application of chemical fertilizer in the production of sorghum and other related crops. The study recommended the establishment of more weather stations for more climatic data generation, seasonal forecast of rainfall characteristics and the adoption of viable CSAP by farmers to enhance productivity and food security.

Keywords: CSAP, Rainfall, Sorghum, Variation, yield

Analysis of Rainfall Trend and Its Relationship with Sorghum Yield in Sudan Savanna Region of Nigeria (Published)

This study analyzed rainfall trend and its relationship with sorghum yield in Sudan Savanna region of Nigeria by examining the trends of rainfall, crop yield and relate annual rainfall trend with length of the growing season. Rainfall data for 62 years (1956-2018) were obtained and subjected to statistical analysis. Pearson’s correlation was employed to test the relationship between rainfall and sorghum yield in the study area.  The result shows increase in annual rainfall in Bauchi, Gusau, Kano, and Yola polygons while there was a decrease in annual rainfall in Katsina, Potiskum and Sokoto polygons. In termsf trend, there was a relatively earlier rainfall onset dates in all the Thiessen polygons with exception of Bauchi and Yola area where rainfall onset date changes insignificantly toward early pattern. There was also a decline in rainfall cessation in Bauchi, Gusau, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto Thiessen polygons within the study period. The Pearson’s correlation indicates a significant relationship between annual rainfall and sorghum yield in the study area with an average P-value of 0.71 which indicates a strong and positive relationship. The study therefore recommends sensitization of sorghum farmers on the relationship between sorghum and rainfall and the need to adopt variety of sorghum that can endure drought as a way of reducing the possible crop loss due to rainfall variability since rainfall show high variability.

Keywords: Rainfall, Sorghum, Sudan savanna, trend, yield

Climate Dynamics and Sweet Potato Yield Across the Agroclimatic Belts of Nigeria (Published)

Rainfall and Temperature are very important elements and factors of weather and climate needed in the successful production of crops, including sweet potato. The performance of this crop yield in relation with climate elements across the climate belts in Nigeria has not been given the due attention in Nigeria. Therefore, this study examined the changing pattern of sweet potato cross the Climate Belts of Nigeria. Rainfall and Temperaturedata were obtained for the study from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Abuja while sweet potato yield data were collected from the experimental farms of National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, Abuja. These data covered a period of 40 years (1980 -2019) and were analyzed using simple linear regression, correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results obtained showed that rainfall and temperature significantly predicted sweet potato yield across the four climate belts at p<0.05:Tropical Monsoon(TM) (F,187.2301)and jointly explained 45% of variation in sweet poyato yield(r=.671and the R²=.45);Tropical Savanna (TS)(F,17.132.1410) and jointly explained 56.4% of variation in sweet potato yield (r = .751 and R²= 56.4);Warm Semi-Arid (WSA) (F,111.0451)and jointly explained 61% of variation in sweet potato yield(r= .781 and R²= .610); and Warm Desert (WD)(F,45.0051) and jointly explained 30.1% of variation in sweet potato yield(r =.549 and R²= .301).Based on these results, it is concluded here that there is a significant relationship between rainfall and temperature and sweet potato yields over the years and across the climate belts. The study recommends among others that planting and harvesting of sweet potato by farmers should align with the seasons as found in each of the four climate belts.

Keywords: Rainfall, Temperature, climate belts, sweet potato yield, variables

Recent Changes in Rainfall and Diurnal Temperatures in Selected Cities in Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Savanna Climatic Zones of Southern Nigeria (Published)

Statistical approach has been used to analyze trends of rainfall and diurnal temperatures in Southern Nigeria. Daily data from Nigerian Meteorological Agency from 2000 to 2019 in five stations are used for the analysis. XLSTAT software is employed in generating the Mann-Kendall (MK) trends for rainfall, DTR and, in plotting graphs. The results show that annual rainfall amount is on increasing trend in all the stations with the lowest increase of 1.2 mm/year in Owerri to 11.46 mm per year in Ibadan. The increasing annual trends, even though insignificant in all the stations except in Ikeja, is enough to cause negative impacts on the environment. Also, diurnal temperatures are in anti-correspondence with rainfall amount.

Keywords: Rainfall, Southern Nigeria, cities, diurnal temperatures, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna climatic zones

Climate Change and Perceived Climate Hazards: A Trend Analysis in Southeast Nigeria (Published)

Current global climatic trends show a deviation from historic trends and this has necessitated this study. The paper analysed climate change trend and the perceived climatic hazards in Southeast Nigeria. Proportionate sampling technique was used to select a sample of 260 food crop farmers for the study and 232 questionnaires were returned. Secondary time series data on mean annual climate variables for a period of thirty years (1984-2014) were collected from National Root Crop Research Institute Umudike and crop output data from National Bureau of statistics. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools like polygon/histograms and line graphs. Also, the extent of damage by climate hazards as perceived by respondents was obtained using likert scale. The rainfall volume variation showed a very unstable pattern with high volatility over years with slightly increasing trend in the study area. Result shows that temperature is significant at 1% level of significance while rainfall volume, rainfall days, relative humidity and sunshine duration were insignificant. Rain day was characterized by unsteady rise and fall trend pattern. The trend also indicated an unsteady change in the movements of the relative humidity and sunshine levels. The result for the occurrence of climate hazards as perceived by farmers show 86.2 %, 64.68%, 63.79%, 77.82% of the respondents perceived to a great extent the impact of flooding, sea level rise, longer period of dry spell and wind storm respectively. Based on the finding, it is concluded that the damaging and devastating effects of climate change is in the increase. It is recommended therefore that adequate adaptive measures and mitigations be put in place to cushion the effect of climate change.

Keywords: Climate Change, Climate Hazards, Rainfall, Relative Humidity, Sunshine Duration, Temperature