Impact of climate variability on the yield of staple grain crops in Wudil local government area, Kano State, Nigeria
Abstract
This study is centered on the impacts of climate variability on some cereals crop yields (sorghum, millet and maize) in Wudil local government area, Kano State. Climatic data were used that covers 1997–2017. Seasonal data were collected from Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority where rainfall and crop yields data was collected. Geography Department, Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil, was where rainfall and temperature data were collected. Atmospheric humidity was derived by using 6.11 x 100 (7.5 x TC/ 237.7 +TC), were TC = Temperature in Degree Celsius. And also Evapotranspiration data was derived using 0.0023 (Tavg + 17.8) (Tmax _ Tmin) 0.5 Ra. Where Tavg, Tmax and Tmin are respectively mean, average, maximum and minimum temperature and Ra represents extraterrestrial radiation. Regression analysis was used to determine the impacts of climatic elements (rainfall, temperature, humidity and evapotranspiration) as an independent variables on crop yields (sorghum, millet and maize) as dependent variables; furthermore, standardize coefficient index were determined in order to know which climatic variable has more effects on the crop yields in the study area. The results obtained reveals that all the climatic elements were highly variable as no years with the same annual total except temperature which shows little annual variation over the study period. Climatic elements were found to have moderate impacts on the crop yields based on the regression coefficient of determination. However, rainfall was found to be the most influential variable on crop yields followed by atmospheric humidity, temperature and evapotranspiration based on standardize coefficients indices. In the situation of changing climate and weather variability and changing seasonal rainfall pattern in present and future, it is important to enhance the efficiency of rainfall and soil water use in crop cultivations. Adaptation of water saving/conserving technologies and identification of crops species and species-specific traits that improves crop water use efficiency of crops under rain-fed, irrigated and dry land farming system is recommended.
Keywords
Climate, Variability, Yields, Staple, Grains, Crops
Supporting Institution
Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil
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