Soil conservation practices among rural farmers in arable crop production in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

C.O Elenwa,A.I Emodi

doi:10.4314/as.v18i3.8

Abstract

The study examined soil conservation practices in arable crop production among rural farmers in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Data were collected with the use of a questionnaire and interview schedule. One hundred and twenty respondents were selected from six communities using the simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as the ordinary least square (OLS) analysis. Findings show that more than half (52.5%) were married and 37.5% had formal education. The mean age was 41 years. Types of soil conservative practices used were mulching (51.17%), bush fallowing (59.17), manure application (32.50%), planting indigenous crops (59.17), crop rotation (59.17%), agro-forestry (8.33%), cover cropping (32.50%), intercropping (59.17%), multicropping (58.33%) and shifting cultivation (55.00%), while mulching (x = 75), bush fallowing (x = 0.82), planting of indigenous plants (x = 1.60), and crop rotation (x = 1.58) were adopted. Benefits of soil conservation practices to arable crop farmers were improved soil structure (16.67%), protection of soil from erosion and nutrients loses (16.67%) among others. The major constraint to the use of soil conservation practices in arable crop production was unfavourable land tenure system (40.00%). The study concluded that some soil conservation practices are adopted and practiced by arable crop farmers in the study area. The study further recommends that rewards and planting materials should be given to arable crop farmers as incentives in motivating them to adopt soil coservation practices. Keywords: soil conservation practices, arable crop, farmers

Highlights

Soil is the most important resources on which sustainable agriculture and livelihood of the agricultural productivity of the farm household
The mean age is 41.3 years indicating that the farmers involved in arable crop production are active, young, vibrant farmers who are in there productive stage
This disagrees with Albert et al (2015) who observed that the majority of arable crop farmers in Ahoada East were aged 50-60 years

Summary

Introduction

Soil is the most important resources on which sustainable agriculture and livelihood of the agricultural productivity of the farm household. No less than a quarter of the world’s population have farm household and most of which are in less developed countries of the world, Nigeria inclusive (Ellis, 2000). There is increased pressure on the available soil for food production most especially among developing nations of the world. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (2007) affirmed that the use of soils for agricultural production is one of the strongest influences affecting environmental quality in many developing countries. In Nigeria and other African countries, this phenomenon is being hastened by reduction in fallow periods and the shift from conventional bush fallowing system to permanent cultivation caused by population pressure and agricultural activities (Ameyan and Ogidiolu, 2002)

Methods

Results

Conclusion