A Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Adoption of Soil Conservation Practices in Nigeria: 2011- 2016

Soil erosion is one the most devastating issues that farmers face in Nigeria. Studies on factors that affect soil conservation adoption may however be biased in the absence of consideration of spatial effects. In this paper, we will use data from three waves of the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Survey for Nigeria to explore spatiotemporal patterns in farmers’ cropping systems (i.e. mixed- and mono-cropping, cover crop farming with legumes, intercropping, use of organic manure) to determine whether previous location and neighbourhood effects play a role in current soil conservation practices of farmers, controlling for other non-spatial determinants of soil conservation. Spatiotemporal analyses have the additional benefits over purely spatial or time-series analyses because they allow the researcher to simultaneously examine the persistence of patterns over time and illuminate any unusual patterns. This study would be useful for the appropriate targeting of necessary interventions. Where results from spatiotemporal analyses indicate that social learning and influence is present but weaker over time, this may provide the impetus for increased and recurrent interventions in soil conservation practices in order to generate sustained environmental and agricultural productivity impacts.