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Modelling climatic water balance for water stress-detection for select crops under climate variability in the Sudano-Guinean Savanna, Nigeria

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Abstract

Climate change is a threat to food security with Sub-Saharan Africa being one of the most vulnerable regions and so requires concerted effort for efficient water conservation to boost food production. This effort should come from researchers, States and all other stakeholders especially given that agriculture in the region is still mostly rain-fed. The study employed the Thornthwaite evapotranspiration model to evaluate the climatic water balance in the Sudano-Guinean zone of Nigeria. The assessment of the crop water stress was utilised to design annual multiple cropping systems involving fast maturing and heat-tolerant select crops. Incorporating apt water conservation and prudent agricultural planning, the crops can be grown twice to three times per annum. The intensive multiple cropping systems of agriculture will avert the extensive agricultural practice that requires much land size with its attendant land degradation. It also will lead to higher productivity. The study reveals variability in climate observed in changes in temperature, rainfall and climatic water balance. However, the footprint is higher in Zaria and Kaduna. As a result, Zaria demands special attention due to the higher nature of its water stress and increased evapotranspiration. Therefore, conservation measures should be incorporated in agricultural practices of the zone especially in Zaria. The study advanced recommendations that will help to boost agricultural productivity in the Savanna zone of Nigeria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Energy and Environment, Energy Commission of Nigeria, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

    Chukwudi Nnaemeka Emeribe

  2. Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Christopher Uche Ezeh

  3. Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, Nigeria

    Ali Williams Butu

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  1. Chukwudi Nnaemeka Emeribe
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  2. Christopher Uche Ezeh
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  3. Ali Williams Butu
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Correspondence to Christopher Uche Ezeh.

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Emeribe, C.N., Ezeh, C.U. & Butu, A.W. Modelling climatic water balance for water stress-detection for select crops under climate variability in the Sudano-Guinean Savanna, Nigeria. Model. Earth Syst. Environ. 7, 715–735 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-020-00919-2

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