GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS AND MAPPING OF ANNUAL WEATHER VARIATION EFFECT ON SORGHUM YIELD

J. A. Bello; O. I. Ojo; O. O. Fadipe

J. A. Bello Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
O. I. Ojo Department of Agricultural Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria
O. O. Fadipe Department of Civil Engineering, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Agricultural production in Nigeria like other developing countries is highly vulnerable to climate variability. Taking the effect of weather variability on the yield of sorghum into consideration and the difficulties attached to it, there is the need for an integrated method of the GIS modeling system to allow agricultural producers as well as policymakers to know the impact of spatial-temporal variation of weather on sorghum yield for better profitability, management and productivity. The study analyzed rainfall and temperature variations with sorghum yield data covering the period of 1991-2012 in seven states in North Central Nigeria namely Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau State and The Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Data on sorghum yield, rainfall and temperature cover only 22 years. This study used GIS (geographical information system) to examine the impacts of temperature and rainfall variation on the production of sorghum in North Central Nigeria. The results revealed that sorghum production correlated highly with rainfall amount, climatic variables examined have the impact to a certain limit on the selected crop yield in the study area. The GIS revealed that sorghum production and yield could be explained by the climatic variables examined. Nasarawa State recorded the highest correlation with a value of 1.59 and Niger state had the lowest correlation with an average value of -0.27 the highest record of rainfall occurred in 1993 with the volume of 1930.4 cm with the highest temperature in 2005 reading 68ᵒC. The implication of the findings for sustainable agricultural development is discussed in the concluding part.