The issue of land degradation in Nigeria is one of the major current environmental problems, including a serious effect on agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and general ecological balance. There are several reasons for land degradation, among them being deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, and unsustainable agriculture-related activities. Of the four main contributors to land degradation globally, Deforestation is major. Widespread deforestation due to Logging activities, agricultural purposes, and growing Urbanization has led to the loss of vegetative cover and, in the end, a de-vegetated soil with low water holding capacity and high chances of erosion.
This is further enhanced by the fact that most of the cleared forested land is converted into arable land whereby tree and plant removal in itself increases the rate of soil Erosion and leaching soil nutrients. Also, overgrazing by these animals leads to significant land degradation. Land degeneration through impairment of vegetation in the northern regions for the purpose of extensive grazing of cattle and other animals is quite rampant in many parts of Nigeria. Soil compaction reduces the capacity of land to support plant growth even further and predisposes it to soil erosion.
Urbanization and infrastructural development contribute to it.
Such situations are further intensified by land management and rotational grazing that are not effective, hence resulting in a vicious degradation cycle which is hard to reverse. Unsustainable agricultural practices are another critical factor. Slash-and-burn methods, whereby land is prepared through burning off vegetation, lead to soil fertility loss and contribute to air pollution. Moreover, high-level fertilization by means of chemical fertilizers and Pesticides lowers the quality of the soils and can further contaminate the water bodies. Finally, the expansion of Agriculture on lands that are only marginal or inappropriate for intensive farming increases erosion and reduces Productivity in the long term.
Other factors contributing to land degradation include urbanization and infrastructural development. In most cases, rapid urban expansion leads to the encroachment of agricultural and forested land areas, hence undermining such resourceful ecosystems and distorting the natural drainage patterns. Building of roads, buildings, and others can lead to compacting of the soil, increase the runoff, and erosion, which hence diminishes the productivity of the land further. Such practices aggregate to bring down land productivity, enhance susceptibility to desertification, and reduce biodiversity.
Nutrient deficiency affects the standard of living of farmers.
Effective control of land degradation in Nigeria requires an approach that includes awareness about sustainable land management practices, aggressive reforestation, and initiation of policies that encourage responsible land use and conservation. There is an indispensable need for efficient management of land resources if long-term Sustainability of Nigerian agriculture and natural ecosystems is to be guaranteed. Land degradation is generally manifested in the form of soil erosion, reduced fertility, and arable land, thus directly affecting agricultural productivity. Soil erosion, after deforestation, overgrazing, and non-sustainable farming practices, causes the loss of topsoil, which is necessary for plant growth. Erosion not only removes the fertile layer of soil but is also deposited into the waterways, leading to sedimentation that impacts water quality. This consequently lowers the land’s fertility potential, and the yields reduce with an increase in difficulty to farm.
Another implication for land degradation is the depletion of nutrients. Continuous cropping without replenishing the soil or adding chemical fertilizers gradually rips off the soil of its important nutrients crucial in crop growth. With a reduction in the fertility of the soil, it becomes difficult for the Farmer to maintain the productivity of crops as harvests may continuously decline. This depletion also calls for increased input costs for fertilizers and soil amendments, with which the smallholder farmers can easily become overburdened, especially since many of them are often already operating on thin margins.
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It also contributes to the problem by reducing arable land. As land becomes less productive, agricultural expansion into untouched areas ensues. The expansion may mean the encroachment of forests and other natural habitats. Moreover, the loss of arable land means reduced space for growing crops, which may reduce food production with a consequent pressure on available agricultural lands. This has led to reduced agricultural production, thereby causing food Insecurity in combination with soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and a decline in arable land. Reduced agricultural production will make it hard for farmers to grow enough food for the communities, hence resulting in high prices for food with an increase in importation. This also reduces their income and gives them low quality of life, hence leading to self-reinforcing cycle of Poverty and environment degradation.