The Impact Of Soil Quality On Cocoa Yield
In Nigeria
Author(s)
O. A. Amusan & F. O. Amusan
Abstract
The Southwestern region of Nigeria is the largest administrative region in
Nigeria; it occupies about 30 percent of Nigeria and has an estimated population
of about 40 million. Over 50 percent of the area is categorised as rural areas of
which about 90 percent of the people depend on farming for their livelihood.
Over 90 percent of Nigerian cash crop cocoa is produced in the cocoa belt of the
Southwestern region, but both cash and food crops have consistently declined in
the last few years. This phenomenon constitutes a threat to food security and
calls for efforts to explain the downward trend and make recommendations for
improvement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the soils of some
areas in Southwestern Nigeria for cocoa on the one hand, and identify factors
affecting cocoa yield on the other. A novel technique that combines soil survey
with socio-economic analyses was adopted. Socio-economic surveys covered
resource quality and constraints to agricultural production, whereas soil sampling
and analyses were carried out to assess the contribution of soil to yield. Three
locations having similar agro-ecological features were selected, namely Ibadan,
Ife and Akure. Cocoa farmers were randomly selected and interviewed on their
farms using standardised questionnaires to elicit information on factors affecting
crop yield. Relationships between cocoa yield and variables presumed to
influence yield were determined using linear multiple regressions. Soil organic
C, Age of farm soil, and ECEC were identified as the major constraints to yield.
Other variables are related to biophysical and management factors. It is
recommended that emphasis should be placed on soil management techniques
that conserve organic matter and enhance the nutrient and water holding capacity
of the soils. Policies that would enhance sustainability of agricultural land use
and crop marketing are also required.
Keywords: cocoa yield, food security, land use, linear multiple regressions, soil
organic C, soil quality.
Keywords
cocoa yield, food security, land use, linear multiple regressions, soil
organic C, soil quality.
Related Book
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