Rehabilitation of a semiarid ecosystem in Senegal : 2. Farm-plot experiments
In the Sudano-Sahelian zone of western Africa, characterized by semi-extensive agriculture and subhumid climate, soil degradation and water shortages are widespread features. Soil and water conservation practices are introduced to the farmers, but often abandoned thereafter. Some interesting results have been obtained, on a hillside scale, in the southern part of the cropping basin of Senegal. As a supplement to the experimental design, two small watersheds (2.5 ha) were delineated and equipped in representative hillside locations. In 1988, both the watersheds were planned and submitted to an hydrological survey. One of them, located on a colluvial/alluvial terrace, was also submitted to soil water storage and grain yield monitoring. Results highlight a decisive effect of soil and relief features on the efficiency of conservation measures. Relevant results were obtained on the terrace, but upstream areas still generated marked soil and water losses. These phenomena, in addition to socioeconomic constraints, partly explain farmers' behaviour noticed on the hillside scale.
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | article biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
Subjects: | P10 - Ressources en eau et leur gestion, conservation des sols, aménagement de bassin versant, bassin versant, hydrologie, stockage d'eau, érosion, rendement des cultures, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_7165, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_25301, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8334, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3731, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_8327, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2651, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_10176, http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6970, |
Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/475954/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/475954/1/document_475954.pdf |
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Summary: | In the Sudano-Sahelian zone of western Africa, characterized by semi-extensive agriculture and subhumid climate, soil degradation and water shortages are widespread features. Soil and water conservation practices are introduced to the farmers, but often abandoned thereafter. Some interesting results have been obtained, on a hillside scale, in the southern part of the cropping basin of Senegal. As a supplement to the experimental design, two small watersheds (2.5 ha) were delineated and equipped in representative hillside locations. In 1988, both the watersheds were planned and submitted to an hydrological survey. One of them, located on a colluvial/alluvial terrace, was also submitted to soil water storage and grain yield monitoring. Results highlight a decisive effect of soil and relief features on the efficiency of conservation measures. Relevant results were obtained on the terrace, but upstream areas still generated marked soil and water losses. These phenomena, in addition to socioeconomic constraints, partly explain farmers' behaviour noticed on the hillside scale. |
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