RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL VARIABILITY ON MILLET (Pennisetum americanum L.) AND SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L) moench. ) YIELDS IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAINFALL VARIABILITY ON MILLET (Pennisetum americanum L.) AND SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L) moench. ) YIELDS IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA
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Date
2014-12
Authors
SALEH, Haruna,
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Abstract
This study assesses theRelationship between Rainfall Variability on Millet (Pennisetum americanum L.) and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L) moench.)Yields in the Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeriausing daily rainfall data and the yields of the two crops (millet and sorghum) spanning from 1981 – 2010.It achieved a stated set of objectives which include: Identification of rainfall variables that influence yield, analyzing the trend of onset and cessation dates, length of growing season and annual rainfall for the study locations. Determination of the trend of millet and sorghum yields. Establish relationship between the yield of millet and sorghum in each study location with the observed rainfall variables. Develop a model for predicting yield of millet and sorghum on the basis of rainfall variables. Methods used for investigation include ogive of cumulative pentad rainfall, trend lines and linear trend line equations, product- moment correlation coefficient (r) bar chart and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results obtained indicate significant variation in the onset and cessation dates, monthly rainfall amounts during the growing season, annual rainfall and length of the growing season within the study locations. There was an increasing trend in onset dates of the growing season, annual rainfall, length of the growing season, millet and sorghum yields, and decreasing in cessation dates of the growing season. Most of the rainfall parameters observed such as in May, June, July, August, September, October and annual rainfall and length of the growing season are significantly correlated at 0.05 levels of significance and few at 0.01 with the yield of the two crops (millet and sorghum).Results for stepwise multiple regression analysis gave four (4) yield forecast models, three (3) for millet at Kano (y = 0.733log10AR + 2.483), Katsina (y = 0.503log10AR – 1.292), Potiskum (y = -0.185log10AR + 0.529) and the last for sorghum at Potiskum ( y =-0.008log10M – 0.018). The two (2) best fitted crops yield forecast models among these for the study area are y = 0.503log10AR – 1.292 for millet yield at Katsina and y = -0.008log10M – 0.018 for sorghum yield at Potiskum. Based on these findings, it is recommended that,farmers be guided to plant their field crops on the derived mean onset date of 22-May at Kano, 1-June at Katsina, 5-June in Maiduguri, 10-June at Potiskum, 3-June at Sokoto and 23- May at Gusau.Be made aware that the length of growing season in the Sudan Savanna is generally short, onset dates commences on June or May and cessation date ends in the month of September or October. Advised to obtain early maturing seed varieties for planting before the onset of rainy season. Apply the two crops yield models for planning and forecasting the yields of these crops (millet and sorghum) in the study area.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOGRAPHY
DEPARMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
AHMABU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
RAINFALL VARIABILITY, MILLET (Pennisetum americanum L.), SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L) moench. ), SUDAN SAVANNA ECOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA