Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Maize-Sorghum Intercrop at Samaru, Northern Guinea Savannah, Nigeria

Two field experiments were conducted during the rainy seasons in 2000 and 2001 at the Research Farm, Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru, (11° 11’ N, 7 °37’E and 675m above sea level), Northern Nigeria to evaluate the effect of intercropping on the growth, yield and water use efficiency of a Maize-Sorghum intercrop. Intercropping is a cropping system widely practiced in the Nigerian savanna that utilizes moisture to produce several crops on one piece of land. The trial involved a maize and a sorghum variety planted as sole and intercrop in different planting arrangements (row and alternate) of both crops laid out in a randomized complete blocks design replicated three times. Results indicate that the row planting arrangement significantly out yielded the alternate arrangement but was similar to the sole crop planting arrangement. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) values indicated more efficient utilization of space by intercrops than sole cropping. Intercropping also resulted in more efficient utilization of moisture by the intercrops compared to the sole crops.Keywords: Maize-Sorghum intercrop, row planting, alternate planting, yield advantage, water use efficiencyNigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science (2011), 19 (2): 253-25

Farmers’ Perception of the Effects of Climate Change and Coping Strategies in Three Agro-Ecological Zones of Nigeria

The study assessed farmers perception of the effects of climate change and coping strategies in three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Three agro-ecological zones namely Middle-Belt, North-Central and North–East were purposively selected and one LGA where NAERLS extension model village is located was purposively selected from each of the 3 agro-ecological zones. One village was randomly selected in addition to the NAERLS model village. Twenty five farmers were randomly selected from each village. One hundred and fifty (150) validated structured questionnaires were used to elicit information from respondents. Data were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Farmers were fully aware of the effect of climate change and possible coping strategies such as the need for agricultural insurance, planting of drought and flood tolerant varieties and reduction of water loss through practices such as mulching and rearing of heat tolerant livestock. General perception was that climate change increases the rate of sickness/infection, reduces family income and that frequency of flood and that drought has increased. Chi-square analysis indicated a positive and significant relationship between perception of climate change and agro-ecology (X2 =23.52;

Assessment of Climate Change Adaptive Strategies in Small Ruminant Production in Rural Nigeria

Animals are intrinsically dependent on the environment, and any fluctuations in weather and climate can affect them through water and land changes, such as desertification, feed and water availability. Climate change will not only impact the health and welfare of animals, but also the more than a billion people who depend on them. This study was therefore aimed at evaluating the adaptive measures used by rural farmers to alleviate the effect of climate change on small ruminant (sheep and goats) production in rural Nigeria. The target population for this study was all the small ruminant farmers in the five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. A total of 300 respondents were interviewed using validated structured interview schedule. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, means and percentage. The result shows that most (71.9%) of the respondents were adults between 20 and 50 years of age. About 35% keep sheep and goats together while others keep either of the species. The most preferred management system is semi-extensive system (64%). Majority (93.2%) of small ruminant farmers in the rural Nigeria were aware of what climate change is all about and about 54% of them had observed changes in climage through personal experience.Majority of them had also observed and attributed changes to effect of climate change on their flock. Majority of them have also used various strategies to combat climate change. Traditional health care and irrigation of pasture during dry season were not effective adaptive strategies to combat climate change.There is need to educate the farmers more on the possible effect of climate change through the use of radio and other extension organizations (government and non-governmental) on the current situation and implication of climate change on themselves and their animal