ABSTRACT

The study ascertained the effect of soil conservation practices on productivity of arable crop farmers in Abia-State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the socio-economic characteristics of arable crop farmers using soil conservation practices in the study area, identify types of soil conservation practices used among the arable crop farmers, estimate the use-level of soil conservation practices, analyze the determinants of the use-level of soil conservation practices, determine the productivity of the arable crop farmers, analyze the effect of soil conservation practices and other factors on productivity and determine the various constraints to the use of soil conservation practices by the arable crop farmers in Abia State.The study adopted a multi-stage purposive and random sampling techniques in selecting 120 respondents for the study.  Primary data were collected with the use of a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and ordinary least square (OLS) techniques. The results showed that the mean age of the farmers was 49 while male farmers dominated farming activities in the area, the mean household size was 7 persons, and the mean farming experience was 19 years while 82% of the respondents were married and the mean farm size was 1.0 hectares while  99% of the respondents in the study acquired one form of formal education or the other. Farmers were aware of the different types of soil conservation practices  but the currently major in use includes: multiple cropping, cover crop/planting of legumes, use of organic and inorganic manure and crop residue recycling. The mean use-level of soil conservation practices was 0.471, from the results60 % of the arable crop farmers had low use-level and 40% of the farmers had high use-level. t The tobit regression estimate of the determinants of the use-level of soil conservation practices in the study area showed that education, amount of credit obtained farming experience, extension services, and toposequence significantly and positively influenced use-level of soil conservation practices, while farm income and cost of conservation practices significantly and negatively influenced use-level of soil conservation practices. A mean productivity level of 2.97 and 3.72 were achieved by the low and high users respectively. The polled result of the effect of soil conservation practices and other socio-economic factors on productivity of the arable farmers showed that age, social capital, amount of credit obtained, extension visit, farm size and labour significantly and  positively influenced productivity of the farmers while distance of farm from farmer’s home has a negative effect on productivity. The major constrain to the use of soil conservation practices is inadequate farm credit. The study concludes that farmers inability to apply the appropriate conservation practices that suits their soil, and in appropriate quantity needed and small farm size leads to low farm productivity thus, extension agents should devote their time in assissting farmers in application of appropriate conservation practices especially new invented practice and mechanical practices.