The research area, Sabon Tasha Railway Station, is in Kaduna State, Nigeria's Chikun Local Government Area (Figure ). The northern Nigerian state of Kaduna is known for its sporadic short trees, shrubs, and grasses. Its soils are primarily loamy to sandy, with some clay pockets thrown in. Seven states border Kaduna State geographically: Kano to the northeast, Bauchi and Plateau to the east, Nasarawa and the Abuja Federal Capital Territory to the south, and Niger to the west. Zamfara and Katsina are Kaduna's northern neighbours. Between latitudes 10°38'58" N and 10°25'36" N and longitudes 7°22'14" E and 7°32'00" E are Kaduna State's coordinates .