ABSTRACT

This study examines the rainfall distribution and the length of the growing season in Northern Nigeria using the daily rainfall data from the selected stations Gasua, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Maiduguri, Potiskum, Sokoto, Yelwa, Zaria. The data were collected from the archives of the Nigerian Meteorological Services, Oshodi, Lagos. The length of the growing season was determined using the cumulative percentage mean rainfall method. The growing seasons in Gasau, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Maiduguri, Potiskum, Sokoto, Yelwa, Zaria and Northern Nigeria extend over 4 months (third dekad of May to the end of the second dekad of September), 5 months (the middle of the second dekad of May to the end of the third dekad of September), 4 months (end of the third dekad of May to the beginning of the second dekad of September), 4 months (end of the third dekad of May to early October), 4 months middle of the first dekad of June to the end of the second dekad of September), 4 months (middle of the first dekad of Jnne to the beginning of the third dekad of September) , 4 months (end of the third dekad of May to the end of the second dekad of September), 5 months (middle of the second delcad of May to late September), 5 months (end of the first dekad of May to the beginning of the third dekad of September) and 4 months (end of the third dekad of May to the beginning of the third dekad of September) respectively.

Keywords-Rainfall amount, raindays, rainfall onset, cessation, length of growing season, crop production, Northern Nigeria.