AGROECOLOGY AND SOIL SECURITY FOR SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION IN THE KANO REGION

Abstract

Agroecology, with its focus on restoring ecosystem services and promoting sustainable agricultural 
practices, is crucial for achieving soil security and ultimate food security. Thus, soil fertility decline and 
climatic uncertainties are becoming serious hindrances to achieve soil and food security goals. This paper 
aimed to assess the spatial distribution and concentration of some soil chemical properties in the various 
agroecological zones of Kano region with a view to understanding how it influences soil security in the 
respective zones of the region. Cluster sampling method was adopted and 109 samples were collected 
using composite techniques. Inverse distance weighted (IDW) overlay technique was also employed in the 
GIS environment to display the spatial distribution of the properties considered. The findings revealed 
that, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, ECEC, organic carbon/matter and soil reactions in the studied 
agroecologies were generally low. These low concentrations might be the reason for low crops yield and 
subsequent food security in the region. However, the degree of the concentrations was observed to be more 
severe in the Sahelian (Babura) and Sudano-Sahelian (Dambatta) agroecological zone of the region 
making it more fragile and vulnerable to soils security challenges than the Sudan (Wudil), Northern 
Guinea (Tudun Wada) and Southern Guinea (Maraku-Doguwa) zones. These have been attributed to soil 
moisture availability, sandy or clay distribution, inherent geological condition and poor farming practices 
adopted by smallholder farmers in the respective zones. Soil organic amendment applications as well as 
adoption of smart management practices compatible to the prevailing conditions are desirable for improve 
soil health, soil security and sustainable agricultural production in the different agroecologies in the Kano 
region.