TITLE:
Effect of Variability in Rainfall Characteristics on Maize Yield in Gboko, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Emmanuel Msughter Adamgbe, Fanan Ujoh
KEYWORDS:
Rainfall Variability; Onset and Cessation; Duration; Rain Days; Rainfall Amount; Maize Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.9,
August
28,
2013
ABSTRACT:
The study examines the impact of
variability in rainfall characteristics on maize yield in a tropical setting.
The study design involves the collection and analyses of data on rainfall
characteristics and maize yield at Gboko LGA in Benue State, Nigeria. The
methodology adopted is the use of archival data on rainfall and maize yield for
30 years, collected from the Agro-Meteorological Unit and Farm Department of
Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev (AOCAY). The data was analyzed
using mean, correlation and regression analysis to establish cause and effect
relationship between rainfall characteristics and maize yield at the study
area. The result of the correlation analysis showed that rain days and rainfall
amount had strong positive
relationship (r = 0.747
and r = 0.599,
respectively) with maize yield. It was also observed that the rainfall
characteristics jointly contributed 67.4% in explaining the variations in the yield of maize per hectare.
The study concludes with the development of a model for predicting maize yield
in Gboko LGA. The study also recommended the application of irrigation
technology, use of appropriate management practices that ensured moisture conservation and improved
crop species with shorter growing periods/less moisture consumption as adaptive
measures to the changing rainfall pattern within the study area.