SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE DIFFERENT AGROECOLICAL ZONES OF KANO REGION FOR RICE PRODUCTION

Abstract

The study assessed the suitability of the different Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZs) in Kano region for sustainable
Rice production. The prevailing biophysical conditions in the AEZs of the region were matched against the rice
agronomic requirements for better understanding of the suitable locations for the crop. The major biophysical
attributes considered were climatic conditions, soils and topography in the region. Cluster sampling method
was employed and soil samples were collected using composite technique. Information on climatic variables
were sourced from both documented and satellite sources. Data was analysed using Analytical Hierarchy
Process (AHP) in the GIS environment for suitability classification. The findings revealed that, 8%
(344,333.13 Ha) and 50% (2,280,253.34 Ha) was found at highly (S1) and moderately (S2) suitable classes
respectively. The highly suitable land was in the Southern Guinea and parts of Northern Guinea AEZs and
moderately suitable land was in the Northern Guinea and significant parts in the Sudan AEZ in the region.
38% (1,699,676.14 Ha) and 4% (192,943.07 Ha) mostly covering the Sahelian, Sudano-Sahelian and parts in
the Sudan AEZs were marginally (S3) and not (N) suitable for the crop in the region. The study indentified
moisture stress and low soil fertility as the major biophysical limiting factors to rice production in Sahelian,
Sudano-Sahelian and parts of the Sudan AEZs whereas low soil fertility status been the major limiting
biophysical factors in the moderately suitable areas for the crop. The study recommends that, early maturing
cultivars/varieties be introduced for adoption in the Sahelian, Sudano-Sahelian and in parts of the Sudan AEZs
and soil test based fertility management practice be encourage for improve and sustained rice production in
the Kano region.