Assessing the Relationship between Farming Systems, Agricultural Practices, and Soil Degradation in Adamawa State, Nigeria
BULUS SIMON *
World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
LEO OSUJI
World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Petroleum & Environmental Chemistry Research Group, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, East-West Road, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (INRES), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
ANDREW OBAFEMI
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (INRES), University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
OLANREWAJU LAWAL
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim on the impact of various farming systems and practices on the soil degradation. The paper examines the endemic challenges of decreased soil fertility and productivity due to mismanagement of lands and climate change. The study adopted cross sectional research design, and data were collected from 384 farmers through surveys and field observations, and analyzed using Chi-square tests. The findings revealed that there was no significant correlation between the type of farming system and soil degradation (χ² = 5.6873, p = 0.133). In the same vein, crop rotation (χ² = 2.935, p > 0.05) and tillage method (χ² = 2.482, p > 0.05) were not significant. However, irrigation practice had a significant relationship (χ² = 11.949, p < 0.05), indicating its role in improving soil resilience. The article formulated Adaptive Nutrient Resilience Framework (ANRF) to guide sustainable soil management through climate-smart irrigation, conservation agriculture, and integrated nutrient management.
Keywords: Farming systems, soil degradation, agricultural practices, nutrient resilience framework