Among the mandates given to IAR&T is the mandate for soil and water management research in Nigeria. The land and water resources management programme is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the soil research mandate. It conducts and coordinates cutting edge research for the development of improved soil management technologies in all agro ecologies within Nigeria using holistic approach to multidimensional issues. The programme has moved in line with global trends in digital mapping of land resources at the level of Local Government Areas (LGAs). The programme has experienced and competent scientists from various disciplines including Soil Survey and Land Evaluation, Soil Fertility, Soil and Water Conservation, and Agricultural/Environmental Engineering.

Research Objectives

Land and Water Resources Management Programme conducts research on efficient use and management of soil and water resources for increased productivity.

Land and Water Resources Management Programme also provides the scientific foundation for sustainable land use, fertilizer policy, and climate-smart agriculture.

Develop and provide low-cost and efficient technologies for control and monitoring of soil erosion and land degradation.

Develop efficient and effective techniques to solve irrigation, land clearing and tillage problems.

Develop efficient and effective climate-smart techniques for mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

With its extensive contributions to soil mapping, fertility management, and conservation research over the decades, Land and Water Resources Management Programme has significantly shaped the nation’s soil information system and agricultural productivity.

Research Focus

Soil Characterization and Mapping

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

Soil and Water Conservation

Soil Testing and Analytical Services

Soil-Water Relationship and Irrigation Management

Current & Emerging Research Priorities

Mapping and monitoring soil organic carbon for climate-smart agriculture

Mapping agrarian soil for sustainable land use and policy recommendation for preservation

Evaluating and monitoring soil degradation and restoration methods in intensively cropped areas.

Promoting precision nutrient management using digital soil information tools.

Integrating biochar, compost, and residue recycling to enhance soil resilience under climate change.

Offering technical support for advisory services to boost soil fertility and farmer’s profitability across the country.

Strengthening soil data sharing with the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) and support the presidential initiative of the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS).

Our Collaborators

National: National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), State ADPs, and Universities, Ogun –Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), Biochar Initiative, and Nigeria Institute of Soil Science (NISS)

International: International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), FAO, AGRA, OCP Africa, CORAF /WECARD, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

External Grants

National Special Program for Food Security: Detailed soil survey on special programme on food security (SPFS) sites.

Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria: Development of integrated soil nutrient and watershed management strategies under intensive land cultivation.

Oil survey and land evaluation along rice value chain in Niger, Taraba and Ebonyi States, Nigeria.

African Soil Information Service (AfSIS) Project TSBF- CIAT: Digital soil mapping and soil health surveillance of 3 Nigeria Sentinel Sites.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: Soil Fertility Evaluation Management in 2 Local Government Areas in Oyo State.

Danish Trust Fund/World Bank/CORAF: Sustainable soil-water-nutrient management under increasing climatic change and variability in Burkina-Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ Rothamsted Research: Measuring nutrient status of the croplands of Ebonyi and Kebbi states, Nigeria.

Past Achievements

Soil Resource Inventories – Provided baseline soil data for some Local Government Areas in Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Edo, Ebonyi, Taraba, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, and Benue States among others.

Support to the national variety and technology releases – Soil research underpins crop variety testing (e.g., maize varieties) and management packages released to farmers, ensuring varieties are evaluated with appropriate nutrient and soil management recommendations

National Soil Fertility Atlas Inputs – Contributed datasets for Nigeria’s Soil Fertility Atlas and Digital Soil Map initiatives.

Fertilizer Recommendation Frame-works Developed regional fertilizer use guides and calibration protocols used by ADPs and fertilizer blending companies.

Soil Conservation Technologies – Promoted environmentally friendly soil conservation and erosion control methods adapted to smallholder conditions.

Training and Capacity Development – Trains students, farmers, and extension workers on soil sampling methods, soil quality indicators, fertility evaluation, conservation practices, and sustainable soil management.

Publications and Technical Bulletins – Produced soil research reports and farmers’ guides widely used by farmers, researchers and agricultural agencies.

Future Plans

Production of functional soil maps of Nigeria based on agro-ecological zones.

Correlation of Nigeria soils and development of National Soil Nomenclature System.

Monitoring land quality/degradation.

Testing and validating improved inorganic and organic fertilizer /biochar formulation to address current challenge of low soil productivity.

Multiplication of identified inoculants for accelerated composting.

Promotion of bio-fertilizers for crop growth among farmers.

Services Rendered

Advisory services to farmers, agricultural institutions and industries through soil survey and mapping, land evaluation recommendations for appropriate management practices.

Training of trainers and farmers on production and use of organic fertilizers.