Prof. Ado Yusuf, the Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has said soil testing reduces fertiliser application on farms, cost of production and also keeps the environment healthy.
He said a research jointly conducted with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on climate-smart agriculture in 2023 in some parts of Kaduna State has made important revelations.
“Part of the rule during the project was that one cannot apply fertiliser without knowing the content of the soil fertility test result.
“At the end of the project, it was discovered that farmers in the project area were applying more fertiliser than necessary; fertiliser application was cut by one-third and we got the same yield,’’ he stated.
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Prof. Yusuf said the quantity of fertiliser they usually apply to their farms was reduced by one-third as a result of the test, thereby reducing the cost of fertiliser to be applied on their farms.
According to him, a soil fertility test result is usually valid for three years and it helps in keeping the environment healthy by regulating nutrient requirements of farmlands.
The agricultural expert, however, lamented that the percentage of farmers that do soil tests in Nigeria was very insignificant.
He applauded agro-allied companies that developed mobile laboratories for soil fertility tests, which served as incentives for farmers to buy their products.
“The companies go to farms, conduct tests and recommend the fertiliser to be applied, this is commendable,’’ Yusuf said.
Besides this, Yusuf also advised farmers to go for improved seeds and ensure good management of their farms for better results.
The director advised farmers in the North West to plant early maturing seed varieties in compliance with the NIMET forecast for the 2024 rainy season.
He said, based on the forecast, there may be a dry spell which may be extended beyond two weeks, especially in the northern states.
“Farmers should delay a little before they commence planting until it is well established to avoid replanting; it was also forecast that there will be an early cessation of rainfall in many places.
“In some places, the last rains may come around the first or second week of October which means the length of the rainy season is short, so farmers should go for short-duration crops,’’ he said.
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