Post-fallow decomposition of woody roots in the West African savanna

Manlay, Raphaël J.; Massé, Dominique; Chevallier, Tiphaine; Russell‐Smith, A.; Friot, Dominique; Feller, Christian

doi:10.1023/b:plso.0000030176.41624.d7

Cited by 25 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Traditional fallows are major components of smallscale traditional farming systems in the Sudanian and Guinean zone of Africa (Peltier 1993;Gleave 1996;Floret and Pontanier 1999;Manley et al 2004). They contribute to soil fertility restoration and provide farmers with a wide range of products such as fuelwood, fodder, fruits and wild leafy vegetables (Peltier 1993;Aweto 1999;Buresh and Cooper 1999;Szott et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditional fallows produce wood resources mostly from vegetative regrowth by coppicing from stumps or root masses (Nyerges 1989;Buresh and Cooper 1999;Manley et al 2004). In minimal cultivation with little soil disruption and short cropping period conditions, stumps and root masses of some felled tree species are conserved in the soil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In minimal cultivation with little soil disruption and short cropping period conditions, stumps and root masses of some felled tree species are conserved in the soil. Then, they resprout at the beginning of the fallow period and regenerate new shoots used as firewood (Nyerges 1989;Manley et al 2004; Dalle and de Blois 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the past decades, increasing population density, agricultural intensification and changes in land tenure in Sub-Saharan Africa, have led to the shortening of fallow cycles (Buresh and Cooper 1999;Szott et al 1999;Ngobo et al 2004;Manley et al 2004). This, associated with extended cropping periods, may damage stumps and root masses and limit resprouting, as well as fuelwood productivity (Dvorak 1992;Manley et al 2004;Dalle and de Blois 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This, associated with extended cropping periods, may damage stumps and root masses and limit resprouting, as well as fuelwood productivity (Dvorak 1992;Manley et al 2004;Dalle and de Blois 2006). Dry season bushfires also threaten the sustainability of traditional fallowing in the SudanoGuinean region by limiting tree and shrub growth for woody resource production (Peltier 1993;Higgins et al 2000;Sankaran et al 2008) and burning litter biomass, thus inhibiting soil fertility restoration (Peltier 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Weed removal improves coppice growth of Daniellia oliveri and its use as fuelwood in traditional fallows in Benin

et al. 2009

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Daniellia oliveri is an indigenous tree with multiple coppicing that is harvested as firewood by local people from savannas and traditional fallows in West Africa. We investigated the effects of periodic weed removal on D. oliveri resprouting and growth in traditional fallows and its use for firewood production by smallholder harvesters. Protected plots were established in D. oliveri dominated fallows at four sites with contrasting soil types. The weedy control plots experienced periodic fires and grass competition. Sizes of firewood logs were surveyed on local markets and used to estimate the quantity of marketable firewood for each treatment. The species sprouted vigorously, forming pure stands. Leading shoot density on weed-free plots was three times higher, reaching 7,250 ± 454 shoots ha -1 34 months after land clearance when compared to 2,425 ± 215 shoots ha -1 on weedy plots. The weed removal treatment increased shoot height from 18 to 34 months after land clearance, while shoot diameter was not affected. After 24 months, 50% of the shoots were of marketable size for the weedy treatment, while this was reached at 18 months for the weed-free treatment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Weed removal improves coppice growth of Daniellia oliveri and its use as fuelwood in traditional fallows in Benin

et al. 2009

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Effect of ramial wood amendment on sorghum production and topsoil quality in a Sudano-Sahelian ecosystem (central Burkina Faso)

Barthès

Penche²,

Hien

et al. 2014

Agroforest Syst

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Erratum paru dans Agroforestry Systems = ISSN 0167-4366. - (2015)vol.89:n°1 p. 95-96. In Sudano-Sahelian agriculture, organic amendments are often limited by resource availability. Small branches (ramial wood, RW) represent an organic resource found in many landscapes but little is known about their effects. This field trial (2007-2009) studied the effects of RW or straw at low application rate (0.69 Mg C ha?1 year?1) on topsoil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and available phosphorus (P, Pav), termite cast abundance, and sorghum yield. Straw and RW were chopped and either buried (StBu, WoBu) or mulched (StMu, WoMu). Mineral fertilizers were added to straw so that RW- and straw-amended plots received similar applications of C, N, P, and potassium. Another treatment had RW buried with additional N (WoBuN), and there was a control (Ctrl). Branches came from Piliostigma reticulatum, very common in the area. The treatments had little significant effect on topsoil and crop, owing to the low application rate and spatial variability. However, Pav was significantly lower with buried than mulched amendments in 2009, and decreased significantly over time in Ctrl and with buried amendments. Topsoil C also decreased significantly with time in WoMu. Significantly more termite casts were observed with RW. The sorghum yield averaged 0.87 Mg DM ha?1 in 2007 and then decreased. The treatments affected yield significantly in 2008 only: it was higher in WoBuN and StBu than in Ctrl. In 2009, the yield was mainly affected by initial topsoil Pav. These results suggest that RW stimulated biological activity, leading to P immobilization and C mineralization, but had little effect on yields. (Résumé d'auteur

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The measurement of woody root decomposition using two methodologies in a Sitka spruce forest ecosystem

et al. 2012

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Post-fallow decomposition of woody roots in the West African savanna

Cited by 25 publications

References 18 publications

Weed removal improves coppice growth of Daniellia oliveri and its use as fuelwood in traditional fallows in Benin

Weed removal improves coppice growth of Daniellia oliveri and its use as fuelwood in traditional fallows in Benin

Effect of ramial wood amendment on sorghum production and topsoil quality in a Sudano-Sahelian ecosystem (central Burkina Faso)

The measurement of woody root decomposition using two methodologies in a Sitka spruce forest ecosystem

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