Effects of Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Soil Health and the Performance of Groundnut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) and Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.) Yield as Influenced by Climate Change in The Sudan-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

Abstract

The poor rainfall and low soil fertility are constraints to agricultural production in Burkina Faso. Soil and water conservation practices positioned as climate-smart alternatives to overcome these obstacles. This study aimed to determine the influence of zaï, stone rows, ridge tillage, and the combination of zaï with stone rows on soil health and productivity of groundnut and sorghum in the Sudan-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. To do this, a survey was carried out in four villages on 135 heads of households randomly selected. Socio-economic, agro-pedological, environmental and soil management data were collected by using questionnaires. Two experimental designs, consisting of five randomised Fisher blocks with four treatments in five replications, were set up. The data collected in the field are related to soil moisture content, macrofauna number, growth parameters, and crop yield components. 208 soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. The results revealed that age, level of education, membership in a local organisation, ownership of cattle, and the practice of small trade are the key determinants of the adoption of zaï and stone rows practices. Zaï improved soil moisture under groundnut (+21.95%) and sorghum (+23.55%), soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus content and pH values. These improvements created a more suitable environment for crop development, which resulted in a significant increase in yields of crops treated with zaï, stone rows and zaï combined with stone rows. The stone rows improved soil respiration. The number and species of termites on soils under groundnut increased by 4 times on soils under sorghum. While the number of ants increased by approximately 3 times. No earthworms were recorded in soil under groundnut cultivation. To boost sustainable groundnut and sorghum production in the Sudan-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso, the zaï technique and its association with stone rows are and remain agro-ecological alternatives. However, to make their effects faster and more efficient, it would be important to change the positions of the zaï pits annually. In addition, an investigation should be carried out to elucidate the non-existence of earthworms in the soil under groundnut cultivation.