Prospects for Minimizing the Potential Environmental Impacts of the Hydro-Agricultural Dam of M’Bahiakro (Côte d’Ivoire)

Assessment of the Physicochemical Quality of Irrigation Water and Soil for Sustainable Irrigated Rice Cultivation: Case of Irrigated Perimeter of M’Bahiakro (Central-East of Côte d’Ivoire)

“…The months of November, December, January and February are the main dry season. Monthly rainfall varies between 0 and 160 mm with an annual rainfall of 1000 mm [6]. The average annual temperature ranges from 25.6˚C to 29.1˚C.…”

“…In Côte d'Ivoire, where national rice production covers only about 50% of the needs of the Ivorian population [5], the development of irrigation systems has been identified by the State as the channel through which the country could rapidly increase its domestic production, reduce its imports and ease the population's demand for rice. Thus, the Ivorian State, with the support of donors, has built several dams in different localities of the country such as M'Bahiakro (Centraleast of Côte d'Ivoire) to support the development of irrigation systems and the management of rice production in the dry season [6]. However, while the development of rice areas by irrigation systems leads to a substantial improvement in yields, in some cases it leads to a deterioration in water and soil quality [7] due sometimes to the abusive use of inputs by producers.…”

“…Thus, knowledge of the initial quality of irrigation water and soils in the rice growing area becomes essential in order to know the nutrients already present in water and soil for irrigation. Preliminary studies have been carried out by authors in this regard [6]. However, these studies remain summary and do not take soil quality into account.…”