Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 17 ISSUE 3
Written by Rukayat Abiodun ADEYEMO, Afolabi Mohammed OLADOJA, Michael FAMAKINWA, Dorcas Lola ALABI

The study assessed utilization of soil management practices among arable crop farmers in Ogun State. Specifically, it described the socio-economic characteristics of arable crop farmers; identified the soil management practices (SMPs) prevailing in the study area; determined the crop yield and respondents’ level of utilization and identified problems associated with their utilization. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 110 farmers from selected six functional fadama sites in Ogun State. Results showed that majority (92.7% and 79.1 %) of the respondents were male and married respectively with mean age of 37.5 years. Zero tillage, mulching, ridging and cover cropping were the major SMPs identified by the respondents. Among SPMs identified, mulching (mean = 2.76), ridging (mean = 2.41), fertilizer application (mean = 2.26), zero tillage (mean = 2.25) and cover cropping (mean 2.25) were the mainly utilized while majority (69.1%) utilised SMPs at moderate level. Further results showed that inadequate supply of fertilizer (mean = 1.78) and high cost labour (mean = 1.69) were identified as the major constraints to usage of the sustainable soil management practices. Age (r = 0.20); farming experience (r= 0.451) and crop yield (r = 0.223) had significantly relationship with the respondents’ utilisation of SMPs. The study concluded that the level of use of soil management practices had direct effect on yield of crops and sustainability of soil used in Ogun state, Nigeria.

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