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The Role of Agroforestry in Climate-resilient Land and Soil Management: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project

Received: 12 July 2025     Accepted: 8 August 2025     Published: 19 December 2025
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Abstract

Agroforestry is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for sustainable land and soil management, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change. This abstract explores the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project in Oyo State, Nigeria, where the integration of tree crops such as mango, cashew, and teak with traditional staple crops like maize and yam has been employed as a climate-resilient strategy. This initiative addresses key issues such as soil erosion, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which are exacerbated by climate change. The practice of agroforestry in Ogbomoso helps stabilize the soil through tree root systems that reduce erosion caused by wind and water. Additionally, leguminous trees enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen, thus enhancing soil fertility naturally and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. The inclusion of trees in farming systems also improves water retention, a critical factor in semi-arid regions, ensuring that crops can thrive even during dry periods. By promoting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and providing additional sources of income from tree crops, the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project not only improves the land’s productivity but also contributes to environmental sustainability and economic diversification. However, despite these benefits, there are challenges, including limited access to technical knowledge, resources, and the long maturation period of tree crops. Addressing these challenges requires government support and policies promoting agroforestry, as well as local and international collaboration. By integrating trees with agriculture, the project provides a holistic solution that enhances soil health, increases agricultural productivity, and fosters ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 13, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12
Page(s) 275-280
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Water Retention, Economic Diversification, Agroforestry, Agricultural Productivity, Climate Change

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Mohammed, M. A., Chinedu, O. I., Abubakar, A. R. M., Badari, S. M. J. (2025). The Role of Agroforestry in Climate-resilient Land and Soil Management: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 13(6), 275-280. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12

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    ACS Style

    Mohammed, M. A.; Chinedu, O. I.; Abubakar, A. R. M.; Badari, S. M. J. The Role of Agroforestry in Climate-resilient Land and Soil Management: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project. Am. J. Agric. For. 2025, 13(6), 275-280. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12

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    AMA Style

    Mohammed MA, Chinedu OI, Abubakar ARM, Badari SMJ. The Role of Agroforestry in Climate-resilient Land and Soil Management: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project. Am J Agric For. 2025;13(6):275-280. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12,
      author = {Mohammed Abubakar Mohammed and Ofia Innocent Chinedu and Abdul Rahim Mohammed Abubakar and Soliu Muhammad Jamiu Badari},
      title = {The Role of Agroforestry in Climate-resilient Land and Soil Management: A Case Study of Nigeria’s Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {13},
      number = {6},
      pages = {275-280},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20251306.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20251306.12},
      abstract = {Agroforestry is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for sustainable land and soil management, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change. This abstract explores the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project in Oyo State, Nigeria, where the integration of tree crops such as mango, cashew, and teak with traditional staple crops like maize and yam has been employed as a climate-resilient strategy. This initiative addresses key issues such as soil erosion, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which are exacerbated by climate change. The practice of agroforestry in Ogbomoso helps stabilize the soil through tree root systems that reduce erosion caused by wind and water. Additionally, leguminous trees enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen, thus enhancing soil fertility naturally and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. The inclusion of trees in farming systems also improves water retention, a critical factor in semi-arid regions, ensuring that crops can thrive even during dry periods. By promoting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and providing additional sources of income from tree crops, the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project not only improves the land’s productivity but also contributes to environmental sustainability and economic diversification. However, despite these benefits, there are challenges, including limited access to technical knowledge, resources, and the long maturation period of tree crops. Addressing these challenges requires government support and policies promoting agroforestry, as well as local and international collaboration. By integrating trees with agriculture, the project provides a holistic solution that enhances soil health, increases agricultural productivity, and fosters ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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    AB  - Agroforestry is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for sustainable land and soil management, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change. This abstract explores the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project in Oyo State, Nigeria, where the integration of tree crops such as mango, cashew, and teak with traditional staple crops like maize and yam has been employed as a climate-resilient strategy. This initiative addresses key issues such as soil erosion, declining soil fertility, and unpredictable rainfall patterns, which are exacerbated by climate change. The practice of agroforestry in Ogbomoso helps stabilize the soil through tree root systems that reduce erosion caused by wind and water. Additionally, leguminous trees enrich the soil by fixing nitrogen, thus enhancing soil fertility naturally and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. The inclusion of trees in farming systems also improves water retention, a critical factor in semi-arid regions, ensuring that crops can thrive even during dry periods. By promoting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and providing additional sources of income from tree crops, the Ogbomoso Agroforestry Project not only improves the land’s productivity but also contributes to environmental sustainability and economic diversification. However, despite these benefits, there are challenges, including limited access to technical knowledge, resources, and the long maturation period of tree crops. Addressing these challenges requires government support and policies promoting agroforestry, as well as local and international collaboration. By integrating trees with agriculture, the project provides a holistic solution that enhances soil health, increases agricultural productivity, and fosters ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.
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Author Information
  • Department of Geology and Mining, Federal University of Lafia, Kurikyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Environmental Management, Kwara State Ministry of Environment, Ilorin, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

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