Geospatial Assessment of Crop Water Requirement for Yield Optimization of Oil Palm in South West Nigeria
| Main Authors: | Isa, Ibrahim, Orewole, O. Maruf, Abayomi, T. Alaga |
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| Format: | Article |
| Bahasa: | eng |
| Terbitan: |
, 2016
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://zenodo.org/record/3381728 |
Daftar Isi:
- Oil palm is a very important crop because of many products that are generated from it, which can boost the economy of Nigeria and create job opportunities for teeming Nigerian youths. The crop is being cultivated, although not maximum capacity, in many areas of the country. The major factors considered in oil palm cultivation are soil type and climate especially temperature and rainfall. This study assessed the crop water requirements for yield optimization of oil palm in Southwest Nigeria. The study showed that the greater percentage of the Southwest Nigeria is suitable for the crop’s cultivation. However, the crop water requirements of oil palm increase northwards from the humid forest zone to the Sahel savannah zone of the study area. Moisture is available for oil palm’s utilization in the savannah region but not in abundant quantity as in the southern humid forest zone. Irrigation requirements increase from humid forest agro ecological zone to the Sahel savannah zone. The study therefore suggests that yield optimization could be achieved through complementing the rainfall with irrigation water.