Trend of Onset Dates, Cessation Dates and Length of Growing Season Analysis in the Sudan Savanna Ecological Zone of Nigeria as a Way Forward to Agriculture and Food Security in Nigeria

Abstract

This study analyzed the trend of onset dates, cessation dates and length of growing season in the Sudan Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria using daily rainfall data spanning from 1981 – 2010. Methods used for investigation include pentad and Julian day calendar, ogive of cumulative pentad rainfall, trend lines and linear trend lines equations using least squares statistical technique. Results obtained indicate late onset and earlier cessation dates of rains resulting shorter length of growing season in the study period. This trend will likely continue in the next decades in the study area. Based on these, it recommends that, farmers provide with early maturing seed varieties before onset date of growing season.