Effects of Agricultural Management Practices on Soil Properties in the Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Agro-ecosystem degradation is a real socio-environmental problem in the Sahel. Face to the declining of yields from cultivated soils, populations are adopting various adaptation strategies. This study was conducted to assess the impact of three agricultural technologies on the evolution of soil fertility in the Sahel area of Burkina Faso. Soil was sampled from the agro-systems and submitted to physico-chemical and biological analyzes in laboratory. We evaluated soil infiltration capacity , inventoried herbaceous vegetation.Also grasses biomass was measured, and millet straw and grains were weighted in the field. Results from this study showed that plowing + bund + organic manure (LDF) treatment was the best management option in the Sahel. It reduces soil infiltration time by 1.65%, increase soil fine elements (clay and silt), chemical elements (N, P and K), exchangeable bases and cation exchange capacity. In addition, soil respiration under LDF treatment is significantly higher (P = 0.001) than other treatments. Simple plowing, is not recommended in the Sahel. It must necessarily be accompanied by measures to improve the nutrient content of soils, especially with manure. These results could guide agricultural actors (farmers, agricultural extension agents, NGOs) for sustainable farming in the Sahel areas.