Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Climatic data on rainfall, evaporation, relative humidity, maximum and minimum atmospheric temperature, soil temperature and sunshine hours were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for a decade (2002 � 2011) while crop yield data were sourced from Kwara State Agricultural and Development Project (KWADP). These data were analysed in order to evaluate the impact of climate on the cultivation of maize, sorghum, rice, millet and cowpea in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multiple regression, trend analysis and correlation analytical techniques were used to analyze the data. The result obtained shows that the impact of climate on grain cultivation is significant for maize and rice yield at 95% probability levels. This implies that climate has a strong linear correlation with two of the selected crops within the years under review. As a result, it is recommended that investment should be made in to supplement rain-fed agriculture under these practices of extensive agricultural extension services, adoption of modern agricultural techniques and provision of agro-chemicals to farmers. Agricultural yield in the study area will be greatly improved if the above recommendations and other government policies are put in place. This study aimed at determining the relationship that exists between grain crops yield and climatic parameters. The result of the analysis of data collected showed that climatic parameters had significant impact on yield in the study area.

Keywords: agriculture, climate, grain-crops, yield, decade, Nigeria.

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