Effects of climate variability on the yield of selected crops in rain forest belt ecological zone of Nigeria.

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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University
Abstract
The study investigated the impact of temperature and rainfall on the yield of maize, yam, cassava, groundnut and okra in the rainforest belt ecological zone of Nigeria. It also identified climatic variability and evaluated the impact of rainfall and temperature with a view to suggesting ways of adapting to recent climatic trends to make crop production sustainable and less risky. The study was carried out in the rainforest belt ecological zone of Nigeria. Secondary data sets were used for this study. The data included the average annual rainfall, average annual temperature and average annual crop yield output of selected staple food crops (maize, yam, cassava, groundnut and okra) from 1999 to 2010 and from six stations (Benin, Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, Ondo, Oshogbo and Owerri) in the rainforest belt ecological zone. Data on rainfall and temperature were collected from the Nigerian Meteorological services (NIMET), Oshodi Lagos. Crop yield data were obtained from the National Programme for Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Report of 2009 agricultural production survey, the annual publication of the National Bureau of Statistics, Abuja and Food and Agriculture Organization annual publications. Crop yield data and climate data were subjected to descriptive statistics. Climate response function was estimated using regression model by incorporating weather variable to examine the impact of climate variability on crop yield production. The peak of temperature for all the stations within the period of study was 29.42°C and the lowest was 25.83°C. The peak annual rainfall for all the stations within the period of study was 3080.5 mm and the lowest was 840.56 mm. The peak value for crop yield production for maize was 350.0 ‘000/ha, for yam was 132.0 ‘000/ha, for cassava was 260.0 ‘000/ha, for groundnut was 20.0 ‘000/ha and 35.0 ‘000/ha for okra. The study revealed that 65% of the variance of maize yield production could be explained by temperature and rainfall and 35% could be explained by other factors. Also 69% of the variance of yam yield production could be explained by temperature and rainfall and 31% could be explained by other factors. 55% of the variance of groundnut yield production could be explained by temperature and rainfall and 45% could be explained by other factors. In addition, 28% of the variance of cassava yield production could be explained by temperature and rainfall and 72% could be explained by other factors, and 39% of the variance of okra yield production could be explained by temperature and rainfall while 61% could be explained by other factors. The study concluded that temperature and rainfall were not the only determinants of crop yield production of maize, yam, cassava, groundnut and okra in the study area.
Description
xi, 89p
Keywords
Temperature, Rainfall, Nigerian Meteorological Services, Climatic change, Crop production, Ecological zone, Rain forest
Citation
Adeyemo, A.O.(2013). Effects of climate variability on the yield of selected crops in rain forest belt ecological zone of Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University
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