Land Use and Soil Management Situations in Nigeria

Abstract

The estimated land area of Nigeria is 904,000 km 2 with a population of over 120 million. The use to which land is put differs from one location to another, especially when the immediate needs of the society or community concerned are not the same. However, the different uses of land revolve around agriculture (crop and animal production), industry (both oil and non-oil) and social needs such as the provision of infrastructure. This analytical review shows that about 65% of the land area of Nigeria is under various forms of food (crop and animal) production and forest plantation. This is categorized as follows: food crop production, 42%; extensive grazing and livestock projects, 21%; plantation (crop, forest, teak), <2%; and agriculture in denuded areas, <1%. From 1976-95 (the only available records) there were substantial changes in land area under intensive and floodplain agriculture (16%), extensive grazing and livestock projects (13%), plantation (>450%) and crop production in denuded areas (>150%). All the forest and grassland regions diminished in area over this period. These probably led to a >1,000% increase in areas under gullies and salty marsh, and >500% in area occupied by sand dunes. Even though these degraded areas occupy <10% of the land area of the country, the rates at which they encroach on more useful land are a dangerous omen for the country's land resources in general and agriculture in particular. Possible soil management solutions to avert these situations are discussed. The paper also highlights the fact that failures in implementation and/or fragmented approaches are the major problems of land use policy in the country, and that these need to be addressed for sustainable development to take off.

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

“…Soil degradation is a phenomenon that is either natural or human-induced. Asadu et al (2004) grouped soil degradation into soil erosion, soil infertility and soil pollution by soil spillage and industrial waste. Soil degradation is accelerated when the forest cover is removed, pastures are overgrazed and overall land use pattern are not sustainable.…”

Use of remote sensing and GIS for improved natural resources management: case study from different agroecological zones of West Africa

“…Appropriate policies concerning the sustainable use of the resources exist in Nigeria and Benin but they are often not enforced. It is therefore necessary to encourage adequate implementation by follow-up strategies, and their continuation by more political stability (Asadu et al 2004). Land use inventory, the generation of an environmental database and development of action plans also started years ago but were not continued in a satisfactory manner.…”

Physicochemical Properties of an Alfisol under Fallow and Adjacent Forest Lands and their suitability for Cocoyam, Pigeon pea and Sweet potato Production in Nsukka, Southeastern Nigeria.

“…The textural classes in the table 4 are within the textures representatives of the soils derived from false-bedded sandstone parent materials which occupy the lower slopes of Nsukka area in Nigeria (Akamigbo and Asadu, 1983, Asadu, 1990, Asadu et al, 2004.…”