.

Investment cost and its determinants among rice-based farmers were estimated for
selected soil fertility improvement practices in Ogun State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected
from 260 rice farmers in three prominent rice-producing LGAs in Ogun State, using a multistage
sampling technique. Four techniques for agricultural land improvement were observed as
being commonly practiced among the rice-farmers in the study area, namely: use of inorganic
fertilizer (urea) under continuous cultivation practice; shifting cultivation/mulching (for upland
rice); shifting cultivation/zero tillage (for lowland rice) and shifting cultivation/crop residue ploughback.
Overall cost of land improvement using inorganic fertilizer (urea), mulching and crop residue
plough-back techniques was estimated at N42,201.63; N23,204.22, and N12,446.78 per hectare,
respectively. Results of the ordinary least square estimator showed that size of farmland cultivated
(p<0.01; 1.68), year of farmer’s education (p<0.01; -2.34), soil agronomy (p<0.1; 2.40), and farmer’s
perception of soil fertility status (p<0.05; 1.99) significantly influenced the level of farmers’
investment in soil fertility improvement practices in the study area. To enhance rice farmers’
understanding of recommended prescriptions aimed at maximizing expected outcomes from land
improvement expenditures, improvement in educational endowment was recommended.
Keywords: Soil fertility, fertility improvement practices, investment cost, upland rice