Soil Fertility Variability and Constraints on Village Scale Transects in Northern Burkina Faso

Abstract

Soil variability has a profound impact on crop yields in low-input agriculture. T he objectives of this study were to examine soil fertility variability and to identify potential soil constraints relating to farmers' conditions for agricultural production in the Sahelian zone of northern Burkina Faso. Surface soil ( 0 20 cm) and subsoil ( 20 100 cm) were sampled from 25 pedons on village-scale transects embracing three genetic soil units : two generations of sandy dune soils showing incipient development ; a complex unit of clayey pediplain soils with duplex properties showing both alkaline and acid subsoil reaction; and hydromorphic, clayey valley bottom soils. Particle size distribution, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable base cations and acidity, soluble base cations, organic carbon, nitrogen, total and available phosphorus, moisture constants, and bulk density were determined. Contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, total and available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium are low in all soils and are presumably major constraints. T he sodium in uenced clayey soils show high absolute variability ; properties that vary are subsoil clay ( 5.8 38.5%) , pH ( 5.8 10.0) , cation exchange capacity ( 4.49 24.81 kg ] 1 ) , exchangeable sodium percentage ( 0 26) , as well cmol c as electrical conductivity, structure, consistency, and available water holding capacity. T he sandy soils are homogeneous and not as acid as elsewhere in the Sahel, presumably due to a dust in ux. T he soil fertility is generally low but highly variable, implying that constraints within production units may consist of multiple combinations of adverse chemical and physical properties, conceptually consistent with the low and variable millet yields. T he variability also implies that soil characterization depends on the design of soil sampling, that average values are of doubtful use, that application of chemical fertilizers will produce very di erent results, and that there is no general scheme for correcting soil fertility. T he application of livestock manure will continue to be the best strategy for sustaining soil productivity.

Smokeless tobacco use: its prevalence and relationships with dental symptoms, nutritional status and blood pressure among rural women in Burkina Faso

“…Nicotine interacts with central oestrogenic pathways [37], which may help explain the non-homogenous effects of nicotine on SBP and DBP. SLT is usually locally produced using a non-standardized processed, and tobacco is grown in different types of soils in which mineralogic contents (such as sodium) may affect blood pressure in users [38]. In addition, the use of pesticides in rural Burkina Faso may cause soil contamination by staining tobacco leaves [39], which has been implicated in BP increases [40].…”

Management of Manure in Farming Systems in Semi-Arid West Africa

“…Local knowledge of soil micro-variability is important in determining exactly where limited supplies of manure should be used. It is well known that soil properties vary within farmers' ®elds (Brouwer et al, 1993;McNetting, 1993;Lamers and Fiel, 1995;Krogh, 1999). Brouwer and Powell (1998) have been involved in detailed studies of the micro-variability of soils within ®elds in Niger.…”

Smokeless tobacco use: its prevalence and relationships with dental symptoms, nutritional status and blood pressure among rural women in Burkina Faso

“…Nicotine interacts with central oestrogenic pathways [37], which may help explain the non-homogenous effects of nicotine on SBP and DBP. SLT is usually locally produced using a non-standardized processed, and tobacco is grown in different types of soils in which mineralogic contents (such as sodium) may affect blood pressure in users [38].…”