Farmers’ Awareness and Perceptions of Seasonal Soil Dynamics Across Agricultural Land-Use Systems

Abstract

Seasonal soil dynamics, expressed through changes in moisture, temperature, structure, porosity, colour and nutrient availability, are central to agricultural productivity and sustainability. These changes are shaped by land-use systems and management practices, yet farmers’ understanding and interpretation remain underexplored across agricultural systems. This study comparatively examines farmers’ awareness and perceptions of seasonal soil changes across varied land-use systems in southwestern Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 700 farmers was conducted using structured questionnaires to capture awareness, perceptions, and information sources related to seasonal soil dynamics. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results show generally high awareness of seasonal soil variability, with 69.7% of respondents very aware of wet–dry season differences and 58.1% rating their awareness as very high. The dry season was identified as the least productive period by 97.0% of farmers, while 80.9% linked low yields to declining soil conditions. Most farmers relied on personal experience rather than formal extension services. Wet-season improvements in soil properties contrasted sharply with widespread dry-season degradation. The chi-square test indicated a statistically significant deviation in awareness levels (χ² = 467.93, p < 0.05), highlighting the need to integrate farmers’ experiential knowledge with scientific soil assessment and targeted extension support programmes.