Assessment of rainfall characteristics of the early and late growing seasons during significant years of extreme little dry season in southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT The study assessed rainfall characteristics of early growing season (EGS) and late growing season (LGS) during significant years of extreme little dry season (LDS) in southwestern Nigeria using 39 years’ daily rainfall totals. LDS’s rainfall of 16 years including 1982, 1997, 2000, and 2017 (Abeokuta); 1994 (Benin); 1987 and 2008 (Ikeja); 1989, 1995, 2006, and 2018 (Ilorin); 1988, 1997, and 2007 (Ibadan); and 1995 and 2017 (Ondo) were significant (α = 0.05 (upper and lower tailed) with the critical value Z = 1.645). While 13 years were positively significant, only 3 were negative. Increased LDS’s rainfall has reduced the EGS and LGS’s lengths, consequently distorting the timing of agriculturally important rainfall characteristics.