Climate Change and Nigerian Soils: Vulnerability, Impact and Adaptation

Abstract

This article reviewed the impact of climate change on our soils and suggested measures to combat or mitigate its negative effects on sustainable soil productivity. Climate change occurs when a situation in which a change in climate continues in one direction at a rapid rate and for an unusual long period of time. The article shows that Nigerian soils have high potential of susceptibility to the impact of climate change with adverse consequences. The vulnerability of our soils to impact of climate change is associated with among other things human factors, illiteracy, low level of technology applied in crop and animal production, type of soils and inadequate climate change policy and bills. Most Nigerian soils belong to the Ultisols, Alfisols, Inceptisols, Entisols, Vertisols order of the USDA Soil taxonomy and respond to climatic change differently depending on a lot of factors including their mineralogical classes. The mineralogy of Nigerian soils is dominated by low activity clays. The impacts of climatic change on soils could be positive or adverse and devastating. Some of the identified impacts are reduction in soil biodiversity, soil erosion, excessive soil wetness, high soil temperature, depletion of soil organic pool, increased soil acidity, change in soil consistence, desertification and general decrease in the overall quality of the soil for agricultural, engineering and other land uses. Based on our local condition and environment, mitigation and adaptation measures are presented in the paper for confronting climate change problems. These methods dwell on the following-management practices to be adopted by farmers, advocated government support programmes and policies and expected roles communities as well as individuals should play in reducing the negative impact of climate change on Nigerian soils. Generally, ensuring adequate cover, changing inputs and varieties and/or species of crops , making wide use of technologies in farming, creating incentive from government and reduction in deforestation and promotion of afforestation are some of the measures recommended. Research on carbon sequestration on continued basis is also recommended.

Classification and assessment of agricultural potential of the lower Niger floodplain soils of Atani, Southeastern Nigeria

“…This result agrees with Abreu Jr et al (2003) on the presence of Al 3+ in soils of high acidity as a function of parent material and soil mineralogy. The resultant variability in the values of exchangeable acidity is attributable to aluminosilicate clay minerals releasing Al 3+ and H + into the soil solution via isomorphous substitution, leaching and nutrient biocycling (Akamigbo and Nnaji, 2011;Ogunwale et al, 2002) under repeated wetting and drying conditions. Exchange acidity and Al saturation are also useful indices of horizon development of some tropical soils; because exchangeable Al is relatively less mobile in soil and differential accumulation of may be attributed to in situ clay destruction (Okunsami et al, 1987).…”

Soil and Agronomic Management for Cucumber Production in Nigeria

“…Requirements for good Soil management includes understanding soil capability for cultivation of various crops, management of problems associated with soils, such as pH, water, fertility and temperature. Problems associated with soil management of Nigerian cucumber soils include inadequate soil survey classification and fertility assessment, lack of communication between land users and government on soil information, absence of conservation practices in farming systems, inadequate knowledge of the environment and over exploitation of soil resources [25]. Sustainable crop production can be undermined or constrained by poor soil management as crop performance is highly related to soil quality.…”

Influence of slope aspect and position on soil physical quality and management implications at University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…It is underlain by the Coastal Plain Sands consisting of tertiary unconsolidated sands deposits known as the Benin formation (Ojanuga et al, 1981). The soils are classified as Ultisols (Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 2020) or Acrisol (FAO, 2014), and are characterized by sandy texture and low fertility due to dominance of kaolinitic, low-activity clays and low contents of organic matter (Ofomata, 1981;Ojanuga et al, 1981;Enwezor et al, 1990;Ogban and Ekerette, 2001;Chikezie et al, 2010;Akamigbo and Nnaji, 2011). The soils are deeply weathered and poorly structured; hence they are permeable and droughty.…”