background to the study

Increased food production is critical in attaining sustainable national food security. With the current population growth rate at about 3% there is need to double crop yields. Continued dependence on the traditional method of extensive and subsistence farming cannot meet this growing demand for food.  More emphasis will have to be placed on intensive farming system. Fertilizer is one of the important inputs required for an intensive crop farming practice. On the hand, maize is among very important staple foods and it is generally consumed almost the world over. Hence, the application of fertilizer by farmers is expected to promote more maize production in Nigeria. Therefore, online questionnaire survey will be conducted to assess the role fertilizers play in maize farming in Nigeria.

Goal:  Effect of maize production using fertilizers in enhancing national food security of Nigeria.

Objectives:  

(i)                To determine the level of fertilizer usage among farmers in Nigeria

(ii)              To assess maize production among farmers in Nigeria.

(iii)            Identifying types of fertilizers used for maize farming in Nigeria

(iv)            Comparing the relationship between level of fertilizer application and maize production.

(v)              Evaluate geospatial application of fertilizer in maize production in Nigeria

(vi)            To analyze the role of gender in fertilizer usage among maize farmers.

(vii)          Establish from which sources farmers get their fertilizers.

Justification:

Over the years farmers have complained of inadequate supply of fertilizers, late release and high cost, among others. More importantly, farmers are been encouraged to use organic as against widespread use of inorganic fertilizers, which is now a paradigm shift. This will no doubt affect the input of this commodity in maize farming systems. The need to undertake a study to

Introduction

Like most developing countries in the world, agriculture is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. the northern part of the country due its soil type and rainfall pattern is notable for the production of cereals particularly maize.
however due to lack of good agricultural practices and heavy toils on the land, the soil isdiscovered to be no longer sustainable without fertilizer application be it chemical or organic.
fertilizer is one of the land augumenting inputs aimed at improving soil fertility or bringing back infra-marginal land into production. this is because it is made up of nutrients which are critical to increased productivity of crops. the most commonly use is the NPK. The principle behind the use of fertilizer particularly the NPK in maize production is to ensure that non of these nutrients is deficient as any soil containing all nutrirents for plant growth except one is said to be barren for all crops for which the deficient nutrient is critial.

Studies carried out in many parts of the country has shown that fertilizer application with adequate water supply have had a great impact on maize production in Nigeria. there are evidences of these on some Fadama sites and big irrigation scheme

IMPACTS OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON MAIZE PRODUCTION IN NORTHERN NIGERIA