Water, Land and Ecosystems - Nigeria

Understanding smallholder irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: results of a sample survey from nine countries

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Shah, Tushaar
Verma, S.
Pavelic, Paul

Smallholder irrigation is emerging as a development priority in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on a survey of 1554 smallholders from nine countries, this paper compares rainfed farming with gravity-flow, manual-lift and motor-pump irrigation. Motor-pump-irrigation farmers reported the highest net value added per acre and per family worker, with gravity-flow and manual-irrigation farmers earning marginally more than rainfed-only farmers. In addition to making affordable pumps more readily available, improving the availability of working capital, enhancing security of tenure and ensuring the availability of affordable fuel are all likely to accelerate smallholder irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Citation

Shah, Tushaar; Verma, S.; Pavelic, Paul. 2013. Understanding smallholder irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: results of a sample survey from nine countries. Water International, 38(6):809-826. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2013.843843

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Limited Access

Research Themes

Land and Water Solutions for Sustainable Agriculture

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/40310

Looking back and moving forward: 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

Regions

Middle Africa

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Vanlauwe, Bernard
AbdelGadir, Abdel Aziz H.
Adewopo, J.
Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel
Ampadu-Boakye, T.
Asare, R.
Baijukya, Frederick P.
Baars, E.
Bekunda, Mateete A.
Coyne, Danny L.
Dianda, M.
Dontsop Nguezet, Paul M.
Ebanyat, Peter
Hauser, S.
Huising, Jeroen
Jalloh, A.
Jassogne, Laurence T.P.
Kamai, N.
Kamara, A.
Kanampiu, F.K.
Kehbila, A.
Kintche, K.
Kreye, C.
Larbi, Asamoah
Masso, C.
Matungulu, P.
Mohammed, I.
Nabahungu, L.
Nielsen, F.
Nziguheba, Generose
Pypers, Pieter
Roobroeck, D.
Schut, Marc
Taulya, Godfrey
Thuita, Moses N.
Uzokwe, Veronica N.E.
Asten, Piet J.A. van
Wairegi, L.W.I.
Yemefack, Martin
Mutsaers, H.J.W.

Low and declining soil fertility has been recognized for a long time as a major impediment to intensifying agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Consequently, from the inception of international agricultural research, centres operating in SSA have had a research programme focusing on soil and soil fertility management, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). The scope, content, and approaches of soil and soil fertility management research have changed over the past decades in response to lessons learnt and internal and external drivers and this paper uses IITA as a case study to document and analyse the consequences of strategic decisions taken on technology development, validation, and ultimately uptake by smallholder farmers in SSA. After an initial section describing the external environment within which soil and soil fertility management research is operating, various dimensions of this research area are covered: (i) ‘strategic research’, ‘Research for Development’, partnerships, and balancing acts, (ii) changing role of characterization due to the expansion in geographical scope and shift from soils to farms and livelihoods, (iii) technology development: changes in vision, content, and scale of intervention, (iv) technology validation and delivery to farming communities, and (v) impact and feedback to the technology development and validation process. Each of the above sections follows a chronological approach, covering the last five decades (from the late 1960s till today). The paper ends with a number of lessons learnt which could be considered for future initiatives aiming at developing and delivering improved soil and soil fertility management practices to smallholder farming communities in SSA.

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Citation

Vanlauwe, B., AbdelGadir, A.H., Adewopo, J., Adjei-Nsiah, S., Ampadu- Boakye, T., Asare, R. ... & Mutsaers, H.J.W. (2017). Looking back and moving forward: 50 years of soil and soil fertility management research in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 1-19.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89406

Groundwater availability and use in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of 15 countries

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

Regions

Southern Africa

TypeBook

Languageen

Authors

Pavelic, Paul
Giordano, Mark
Keraita, Bernard N.
Ramesh, Vidya
Rao, Tamma

Traditionally, the spread and extent of human settlement beyond the major riparian zones of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and across many other arid regions of the world, has been determined by availability of groundwater supplies, accessed through hand-dug wells andsprings. In more recent times, groundwater is the preferred means of supplying water to meet the growing demand of the rural, dispersed communities and the small urban towns across SSA. It is estimated that about 100 million of the rural population throughout SSA areserviced by groundwater for domestic supplies and livestock rearing (Adelana and MacDonald, 2008), with most of the villages and small towns having access to groundwater supplies (Masiyandima and Giordano, 2007).

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Citation

Pavelic P, Giordano M, Keraita B, Ramesh V, Rao T, eds. 2012. Groundwater availability and use in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of 15 countries. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Accessibility

Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/33844

Soyabean response to rhizobium inoculation across sub-Saharan Africa: Patterns of variation and the role of promiscuity

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

Regions

Middle Africa
Southern Africa

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Heerwaarden, Joost van
Baijukya, Frederick P.
Kyei-Boahen, S.
Adjei-Nsiah, Samuel
Ebanyat, Peter
Kamai, N.
Woldemeskel, Endalkachew
Kanampiu, F.K.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Giller, Ken E.

Improving bacterial nitrogen fixation in grain legumes is central to sustainable intensification of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. In the case of soyabean, two main approaches have been pursued: first, promiscuous varieties were developed to form effective symbiosis with locally abundant nitrogen fixing bacteria. Second, inoculation with elite bacterial strains is being promoted. Analyses of the success of these approaches in tropical smallholder systems are scarce. It is unclear how current promiscuous and non-promiscuous soyabean varieties perform in inoculated and uninoculated fields, and the extent of variation in inoculation response across regions and environmental conditions remains to be determined. We present an analysis of on-farm yields and inoculation responses across ten countries in Sub Saharan Africa, including both promiscuous and non-promiscuous varieties. By combining data from a core set of replicated on-farm trials with that from a large number of farmer-managed try-outs, we study the potential for inoculation to increase yields in both variety types and evaluate the magnitude and variability of response. Average yields were estimated to be 1343 and 1227 kg/ha with and without inoculation respectively. Inoculation response varied widely between trials and locations, with no clear spatial patterns at larger scales and without evidence that this variation could be explained by yield constraints or environmental conditions. On average, specific varieties had similar uninoculated yields, while responding more strongly to inoculation. Side-by side comparisons revealed that stronger responses were observed at sites where promiscuous varieties had superior uninoculated yields, suggesting the availability of compatible, effective bacteria as a yield limiting factor and as a determinant of the magnitude of inoculation response.

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Citation

van Heerwaarden, J., Baijukya, F., Kyei-Boahen, S., Adjei-Nsiah, S., Ebanyat, P., Kamai, N., ... & Giller, K. (2018). Soyabean response to rhizobium inoculation across sub-Saharan Africa: patterns of variation and the role of promiscuity. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 261, 211-218.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/88072

Profitability and technical efficiency of soybean production in northern Nigeria

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Ugbabe, O.O.
Abdoulaye, Tahirou
Kamara, A.
Mbaval, J.
Oyinbo, O.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and collaborating partners have been introducing and disseminating short season soybean varieties among farm households in the Sudan savannas of Northern Nigeria since 2008. Yet, there is no empirical information on the profitability and technical efficiency of soybean production. This study estimated the profitability and efficiency of production of the early maturing soybean. Nine hundred soybean farming households in thirty communities from three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano State were sampled for the study. Partial budget technique and stochastic frontier production function were used to analyze the data elicited from the sampled farm households. Results from the study established the profitability of soybean production in all the three LGAs of Kano State. The highest profit of N178,613/ha and returns per naira invested of 2.5 respectively was earned by the soybvean producing households of Dawakin-Tofa LGA. Net profit was N157,261 in Shanono with a returns of 1.75 per naira invested. In Bunkure, net benefit was N143,342 with returns of 1.66 per Naira invested. The mean technical efficiency was highest for the Dawakin-Tofa LGA soybean growing households (87%), followed by Bunkure LGA (68%), and Shanono LGA (59%). This result implies that given the current level of resources available to the soybean producing households, they can increase their soybean output in the short run by a margin 13%, 32% and 41% in Dawakin-Tofa, Bunkure and Shanono LGAs respectively through efficient utilization of their available resources. FArmer-specific efficiency factors, which comprise age, education, access to credit, extension contact and farming experience, were found to be the significant factors that account for the observed variation in efficiency among the farmers in the 3 LGAs. It was recommended that the soybean farmers through the assistance of extension agents should be encouraged to adhere strictly to the recommended soybean production practices towards ensuring efficient utilization of their available resources so that they can improve their technical efficiency and increase their profit level towards enhancing their household food security.

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Citation

Ugbabe, O.O., Abdoulaye, T., Kamara, A., Mbaval, J. & Oyinbo, O. (2017). Profitability and technical efficiency of soybean production in northern Nigeria. Tropicultura, 35(3), 203-214.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89022

Managed aquifer recharge in Africa: taking stock and looking forward

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Ebrahim, Girma Yimer
Lautze, Jonathan F.
Villholth, Karen G.

Climatic variability and change result in unreliable and uncertain water availability and contribute to water insecurity in Africa, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas and where water storage infrastructure is limited. Managed aquifer recharge (MAR), which comprises purposeful recharge and storage of surface runoff and treated wastewater in aquifers, serves various purposes, of which a prominent one is to provide a means to mitigate adverse impact of climate variability. Despite clear scope for this technology in Africa, the prevalence and range of MAR experiences in Africa have not been extensively examined. The objective of this article is provide an overview of MAR progress in Africa and to inform the potential for future use of this approach in the continent. Information on MAR from 52 cases in Africa listed in the Global MAR Portal and collated from relevant literature was analyzed. Cases were classified according to 13 key characteristics including objective of the MAR project, technology applied, biophysical conditions, and technical and management challenges. Results of the review indicate that: (i) the extent of MAR practice in Africa is relatively limited, (ii) the main objective of MAR in Africa is to secure and augment water supply and balance variability in supply and demand, (iii) the surface spreading/infiltration method is the most common MAR method, (iv) surface water is the main water source for MAR, and (v) the total annual recharge volume is about 158 Mm3 /year. MAR schemes exist in both urban and rural Africa, which exemplify the advancement of MAR implementation as well as its out scaling potential. Further, MAR schemes are most commonly found in areas of high inter-annual variability in water availability. If properly planned, implemented, managed, maintained and adapted to local conditions, MAR has large potential in securing water and increasing resilience in Africa. Ultimately, realizing the full potential of MAR in Africa will require undertaking hydrogeological and hydrological studies to determine feasibility of MAR, especially in geographic regions of high inter-annual climate variability and growing water demand. This, supported by increased research to gauge success of existing MAR projects and to address challenges, would help with future siting, design and implementation of MAR in Africa.

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Citation

Ebrahim, Girma Y.; Lautze, Jonathan F.; Villholth, Karen G. 2020. Managed aquifer recharge in Africa: taking stock and looking forward. Water, 12(7):1844. (Special issue: Managed Aquifer Recharge for Water Resilience) [doi: 10.3390/w12071844]

Accessibility

Open Access

Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/108829

The potential of satellite radar altimetry in flood forecasting: concept and implementation for the Niger-Benue River Basin

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Pandey, Rajesh
Amarnath, Giriraj

Flood forecasting in the downstream part of any hydrological basin is extremely difficult due to the lack of basin-wide hydrological information in near real-time and the absence of a data-sharing treaty among the transboundary nations. The accuracy of forecasts emerging from a hydrological model could be compromised without prior knowledge of the day-to-day flow regulation at different locations upstream of the Niger and Benue rivers. Only satellite altimeter monitoring allows us to identify the actual river levels upstream that reflect the human intervention at that location. This is critical for making accurate downstream forecasts. This present study aims to demonstrate the capability of altimeter-based flood forecasting along the Niger-Benue River in Nigeria. The study includes the comparison of decadal (at every 10 days from Jason-2) or monthly (at every 35 days from Envisat/AltiKa) observations from 2002 to 2014, with historical in situ measurements from 1990 to 2012. The water level obtained from these sources shows a good correlation (0.7–0.9). After validation of hydrological parameters obtained from two sources, a quantitative relation (rating curve) of upstream water level and downstream discharge is derived. This relation is then adopted for calculation of discharge at observation points, which is used to propagate the flow downstream at a desired location using a hydraulic river model. Results from this study from Jason-2 shows a promising correlation (R2 _x0015_90% with a Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of more than 0.70) with 5 days ahead of downstream flow prediction over the Benue stream.

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Citation

Pandey, Rajesh; Amarnath, Giriraj. 2015. The potential of satellite radar altimetry in flood forecasting: concept and implementation for the Niger-Benue River Basin. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 370:223-227. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.5194/piahs-370-223-2015

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77533

Generation mean analysis of phosphorus-use efficiency in freely nodulating soybean crosses grown in low-phosphorus soil

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Uzokwe, Veronica N.E.
Asafo-Adjei, B.
Fawole, B.
Abaidoo, Robert C.
Odeh, I.
Ojo, D.K.
Dashiell, Kenton E.
Sanginga, Nteranya

Freely nodulating soybean genotypes vary in their phosphorus (P) uptake and P-use efficiency (PUE) in low-P soils. Understanding the genetic basis of these genotypes’ performance is essential for effective breeding. To study the inheritance of PUE, we conducted crosses using two high-PUE genotypes, two moderate-PUE genotypes and two inefficient-PUE genotypes, and obtained F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 populations. The inheritance of PUE was evaluated using a randomized complete block design. A generation mean analysis of phenotypic data showed that PUE was heritable, with complex inheritance patterns and the presence of additive, dominance and epistatic gene effects. Seed P, shoot P, root P, P-incorporation efficiency and PUE were largely quantitatively inherited traits. There were dominance, additive × additive and dominance × dominance gene effects on PUE, grain yield, shoot dry weight, 100-seed weight, root dry weight and shoot dry matter per unit P for populations grown under low-P conditions. Dominance effects were generally greater than additive effects on PUE-related indices. These PUE indices can be used to select P-efficient soybean genotypes from segregating populations.

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Citation

Uzokwe, V.N.E., Asafo‐Adjei, B., Fawole, B., Odeh, I., Ojo, D.K., ... & Sanginga, N. (2017). Generation mean analysis of phosphorus‐use efficiency in freely nodulating soybean crosses grown in low‐phosphorus soil. Plant Breeding.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/80039

Comparison of physicochemical properties of soils under contrasting land use systems in Southwestern Nigeria

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Watanabe, Y.
Kikuno, H.
Asiedu, Robert
Masunaga, T.
Wakatsuki, T.

Soil physicochemical properties were determined for soils under cropland and forest at the headquarters of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria to examine the 30-year effects of different land use on the fertility of five soil series toposequences underlain by a Basement Complex. The cropland had been under cultivation for 30 years, during which mainly maize and yams had been cultivated in rotation with application of chemical fertilizer and intermittent fallow, while the forest had secondary vegetation that had been regenerated during a 30-year period under protection. The findings for cropland indicated an accumulation of available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium, soil compaction and slight depletion of topsoil organic carbon content; and the findings for forest indicated soil acidification and accumulation of exchangeable Ca at the surface soil horizon. These findings suggest the possibility of maintaining soil fertility with a long-term intensive and continuous crop farming system in kaolinitic Alfisol soil over the inland valley toposequences of tropical Africa.

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Citation

Watanabe, Y., Kikuno, H., Asiedu, R., Masunaga, T. & Wakatsuki, T. (2015). Comparison of physicochemical properties of soils under contrasting land use systems in Southwestern Nigeria. Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly, 49(4), 319-331.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/76376

Status of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) in southwestern Nigeria

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Ande, O.T.
Huising, Jeroen
Ojo, A.O.
Azeez, J.
Are, K.S.
Olakojo, S.A.
Fademi, I.O.
Ojeniyi, S.O.

The soils of South western Nigeria are rapidly degrading due to nutrient mining, soil loss, inappropriate land use, low inherent soil fertility coupled with adverse effects of climate change. These have resulted to persistent low yields and farmers’ poverty. The current farming systems have failed to improve continuous decline in crop production. There is need for integrated approach that involves mineral fertilizer, organic resources, and improved crop varieties with sound agronomic practices if the region will be able to feed its population of over 35 million people. Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is an all-encompassing resource management technique that embraces the use of good planting materials, with appropriate organic and/or inorganic fertilizer application or their integrated use. It also entails adapting the various combinations of the ISFM components to local conditions which by implication means site specific management. There is lack of coordinated information about the components of ISFM being used in SWN and most stakeholders have not appreciated the importance of integrated approach. This paper is therefore put forward to review the status of Integrated Soil Fertility Management in South western Nigeria in order to identify knowledge gap for sustainable crop production in the region.

Citation

Ande, O.T., Huising, J., Ojo, A.O., Azeez, J., Are, K.S. Olakojo, S.A. ... & Ojeniyi, S.O. (2017). Status of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) in southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Agricultural Research, 4(2), 28-44.

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Limited Access

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89720