A Correlation Analysis of Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD) and Selected Crop Yield in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16925474Keywords:
Correlation, Crop Yields, Climate Change, Relative Humidity, Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD)Abstract
The study examined the correlation between vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and selected crop yields in Nigeria. To accomplish this, annual temperature, relative humidity, rice, maize and cassava yield data were collected using the ex-post facto research approach. The climate data was extracted from the NASA POWER DAV V2.4.6. Employing the VPD formula using the Excel sheet, the annual VPD was calculated using the mean relative humidity and mean temperature. The crop yield from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics was accessed to obtain the yields of rice, maize, and cassava from 2000 to 2021. Correlation analysis was used in the study to examine the association between climatic variables and crop yields. The outcome of the study showed that in the past twenty-one (21) years, rice had a weak positive relationship with temperature (0.1037) and vapour pressure deficit (0.2415) and a weak negative relationship with relative humidity (-0.2662). Maize had a weak negative relationship with temperature (-0.1113), and relative humidity (-0.2279) had a weak positive relationship with vapour pressure deficit (0.1827). Cassava had a weak negative relationship with temperature (-0.2284), a moderate negative relationship with vapour pressure deficit (-0.4883), and a moderate positive relationship with relative humidity (0.4931). The implication is that rice yields increase with increasing VPD, and maize and cassava require a minimum VPD. Accordingly, the study suggests that farmers should modify their irrigation regimens according to the VPD needs of each crop. Also, farmers should choose crops adapted to local VPD conditions.
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