Demand-Driven Technologies for Sustainable Maize ... - IITA

379focus on using all available nutrient resources more effi ciently andin a sustainable manner, taking into consideration farming activities,non-farm elements and, more specifi cally, off farm activities of thefarm-household.The study reported here was conducted in the northern Guineasavanna (NGS) of Nigeria where soil nutrient depletion is very highdue to intensive farming and inappropriate application of fertilizers,causing negative balance in soil nutrients (Adedeji and Kormawa 2002).The inappropriate management of soil fertility is a serious problemthat threatens the sustainability of agriculture in this zone. This studyaimed at understanding farmers’ perception of soil fertility managementand the identifi cation of socio-economic characteristics infl uencingthe decision of households on fertilizer use intensity for maize-basedproduction systems. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most importantfood grains in the NGS ecological zone of Nigeria. The popularity ofmaize in this ecology has been enhanced by the fact that it became notonly a major food crop for many homes but also a commercial crop onwhich many agro-based industries depend for raw materials. Kyiogwonet al. (2002) indicated that the high potential of maize in the NGScould only be realized through the use of fertilizer because of the lowinherent fertility of the savanna soils. Ogunfowora (1996) also assertedthat fertilizer is the most important input for maize production in termsof its contribution to output and productivity within the shortest possibletime. This study, therefore, attempted to identify socio-economic factorsinfl uencing fertilizer use intensity for sustainable improvement in soilfertility maintenance for maize–based production systems in the NGSecological zone of Nigeria.MethodologyThe study areaThe NGS where the research was conducted, covers about 13% ofthe total land-mass in the country (Manyong et al. 2001). The zone islocated between latitudes 11 o 07’ and 13 o 22’ N and longitudes 6 o 52’and 9 o 22’ E. Two seasons can be distinguished – the rainy seasonfrom May to September/October and a long dry season from Octoberto May. Maximum temperature during the rainy period is between 27and 34 o C and minimum temperature is about 18–21 o C. Soils in thiszone have a sandy loam to clay loam textured topsoil, with a pH of 5–7 and an organic carbon content ranging between 0.5 and 1.5%. Thesoil properties as described by Norman (1982) are leached ferruginoustropical soil. The surface soil is reddish fi ne loam clay to sandy loam.Selection of the study area was based on the criterion that the area isprone to nutrient mining as a result of intensive cultivation practices.