Use of Agroecological Techniques by Smallholder Farmers to Improve Sorghum Productivity in Burkina Faso

The prevailing farming system in Burkina Faso is smallholder agriculture based on cereal production, especially sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) which form the staple diet for the population. Production is constantly challenged by climate hazards, striga (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.) infestation, inefficient farming practices and declining soil fertility. To address these concerns, one study on several agroecological techniques was conducted from 2013 to 2015 in a participative manner with more than 150 male and female farmers from four communities. Each farmer was asked to test out two or three agroecological techniques of his choice and to measure these new techniques against their usual farming practices. These techniques combined the use of organic fertilizer (5 t/ha) and/or mineral fertilizer (2 g/seed hole) with the systems of crop rotation and mixed cropping, in addition to the improved za? technique and the half-moon method. Plant material was composed of local landraces and improved varieties of sorghum, sesame and cowpea. On-farm application of agroecological techniques resulted in significantly increased sorghum production in all four communities. The rates of increase for grain yield were 8% for the half-moon fields and more than 130% for the rotation systems when compared to the farmers’ usual practices. More limited results were achieved with the chemical components of the soil after two years of experimentation. Only the soil’s organic matter showed improvement over the first year. This study shows that crop rotation, mixed cropping and the improved za? technique in combination with compost and improved drought-resistant varieties constitute agroecological strategies favorable to the intensification and diversification of farming systems in the studied locations. The farmers were above all impressed by the on-site management of compost by means of the za? technique which enabled large-scale fertilization of fields.

Agroforestry Trees Improve Water Infiltrability in Semi-arid Tropical Parklands in Burkina Faso

Maintaining appropriate levels of soil infiltrability is important for avoiding undesirable levels of surface runoff and erosion and for maintaining adequate rates of soil and groundwater recharge.This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effects of Faidherbia albida(apple-ring acacia)and Vitellaria paradoxa(shea butter tree)trees and additions of inorganic fertilizer,leaves and compost on soil infiltrability in two agroforestry parkland systems in the western part of Burkina Faso.Infiltrability was measured before tilling both under and outside canopies of these trees,using tension disc and double-ring infiltrometers.The results show that infiltrability was 33%higher on average under than outside canopies in both agroforestry parkland systems.The compost,leaves and inorganic fertilizer did not improve infiltrability significantly during the study period.More than 75%of the infiltrability estimates obtained using ring infiltrometers outside the canopies were lower than 40 mm/h.In contrast,less than 10%of those obtained from under canopies were lower than this.This could have highly significant effects on run-off,erosion and recharge since rain intensity measurements collected over three years at 30 min intervals showed that up to 35%of the annual precipitation fell with intensities≥40 mm/h.The study demonstrates the potential of improving infiltrability and reducing surface runoff by managing trees appropriately in agroforestry systems in semi-arid tropics.