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ASSESSMENT OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON SORGHUM YIELD IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA REGION OF NIGERIA

Musa Sani Abdullahi
Published 20 January 2026
Vol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
pp. 1-15
CC BY 4.0
  1. 1
    Musa Sani Abdullahi
    Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Nigeria.
    NG

This study analyzed rainfall trend and its relationship with sorghum yield in Sudan Savanna region of Nigeria by examining the trends of rainfall, crop yield and relate annual rainfall trend with length of the growing season. Rainfall data for 62 years (1956-2018) were obtained and subjected to statistical analysis. Pearson’s correlation was employed to test the relationship between rainfall and sorghum yield in the study area.  The result shows increase in annual rainfall in Bauchi, Gusau, Kano, and Yola polygons while there was a decrease in annual rainfall in Katsina, Potiskum and Sokoto polygons. In terms of trend, there was a relatively earlier rainfall onset dates in all the Thiessen polygons with exception of Bauchi and Yola area where rainfall onset date changes insignificantly toward early pattern. There was also a decline in rainfall cessation in Bauchi, Gusau, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto Thiessen polygons within the study period. The Pearson’s correlation indicates a significant relationship between annual rainfall and sorghum yield in the study area with an average P-value of 0.71 which indicates a strong and positive relationship. The study therefore recommends sensitization of sorghum farmers on the relationship between sorghum and rainfall and the need to adopt variety of sorghum that can endure drought as a way of reducing the possible crop loss due to rainfall variability since rainfall show high variability.

JournalJournal of Climate Science and Meteorology
ISSN3065-047X
Volume / IssueVol. 14, No. 1 (2026)
Pages1-15
Published20 January 2026
DOI10.5281/zenodo.19664213
Access Open Access
LicenseCC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution
PublisherKeith Publications
Abdullahi, M. (2026). ASSESSMENT OF RAINFALL VARIABILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON SORGHUM YIELD IN THE SUDAN SAVANNA REGION OF NIGERIA. Journal of Climate Science and Meteorology, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19664213

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