African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (18), pp. 2100-2113, 19 September 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Application of GIS to assess rainfall variability impacts on crop yield in Guinean Savanna part of Nigeria

Odekunle T. O., Orinmoogunje I. O. O. and Ayanlade A.*

Department of Geography, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sinaayanlade@yahoo.co.uk, Phone: +2348061245470..

Accepted 29 June, 2007

The scientific evidence on rainfall variability with its significant impacts on crop yield is now stronger than ever. It is even more so on maize that serves as staple food in most parts of Sub-Sahara Africa. Hence, this study aim at examines and map spatio-temporal impacts of rainfall variability on water availability for maize yield using Geographic Information System (GIS). Major regions where maize is highly produced in Nigeria were selected and rainfall data for 30 years (1970 to 2000) were used for the Geospatial analysis. GIS Interpolation and other geospatial Analysis techniques were carried out to map the impacts of rainfall variability on maize yield. The results of the analysis and the maps produced show that inter-annual rainfall variability brings about the differences in water availability consequently affect the rate of maize yield in Nigeria.

Key word: Rainfall variability, maize yield, GIS.