Soil infiltrability and water content as affected by Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and Néré (Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.) trees in farmed parklands of West Africa

Sanou, Josias; Zougmoré, Robert B.; Bayala, Jules; Teklehaimanot, Z.

doi:10.1111/j.1475-2743.2009.00250.x

Cited by 24 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The most common explanations were improvement in nutrient availability as a result of N input by biological N 2 fixation (BNF), soil carbon building up, and improvement of soil physical properties due to increase soil organic matter and soil fauna activities Bayala et al, 2006;Zougmoré et al, 2006;Sileshi et al, 2008;Sanou et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis

Bayala¹,

Sileshi

Coe

et al. 2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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139

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a b s t r a c tTo address the decline in crop productivity in the drylands of West Africa, many initiatives have focused on combating soil degradation. Various practices including (1) parkland trees associated with crops, (2) coppicing trees, (3) green manure, (4) mulching, (5) crop rotation and intercropping, and (6) traditional soil/water conservation have been tested. The present study attempts to provide a comprehensive, quantitative synthesis of existing reports on the effect of conservation agriculture (CA) practices on crop yield response in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal. Out of a total of 155 reports found, 63 fulfilled all the appropriate criteria to be included in the meta-analysis of the effect of various conservation agriculture practices on the yield response of maize, millet and sorghum. The study revealed significant variability in cereal yield response (and hence risk) with all the practices examined. Despite the variability, the mean effects of the six CA practices on crop yield were more positive than negative except with parkland trees. However, for this last practice, species like Faidherbia albida exerts more positive impact on crop yield. Yield increases relative to the control were higher with green manure and mulching than with coppicing trees and parklands. Increases in yield in the six CA practices were higher on low to medium productivity sites for maize, millet and sorghum. Coppicing trees and rotations improved yields when the rainfall is >800 mm whereas the opposite happens with parkland and soilewater conservation measures. Mulching performed better when the rainfall is <600 mm. The variability (and hence yield risks) calls for more understanding of the processes and application of appropriate tree management to reduce crop yield losses while still providing products (fruits, leaves, wood, etc.) and services (soil carbon building up) for long-term sustainability of the production systems in drylands of West Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis

Bayala¹,

Sileshi

Coe

et al. 2012

Journal of Arid Environments

Self Cite

139

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“…Empirical studies attributed high infiltration rates in agroforestry to improved hydraulic conductivity of the soil and better porosity (Nyamadzawo et al 2003(Nyamadzawo et al , 2007. On the contrary, lower infiltration in controls was attributed to soil compaction due to degradation of soil structure (Salako et al 2001;Chirwa et al 2003;Sanou et al 2010). For example, soils in planted fallows had more macropores and large pore sizes because of improved aggregation (Chirwa et al 2004;Nyamadzawo et al 2008a) and presence of channels formed when roots die and decompose (Chirwa et al 2003).…”

Section: Water Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agroforestry delivers a win-win solution for ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa. A meta-analysis

Kuyah

Whitney

Jonsson

et al. 2019

Agron. Sustain. Dev.

170

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Agricultural landscapes are increasingly being managed with the aim of enhancing the provisioning of multiple ecosystem services and sustainability of production systems. However, agricultural management that maximizes provisioning ecosystem services can often reduce both regulating and maintenance services. We hypothesized that agroforestry reduces trade-offs between provisioning and regulating/maintenance services. We conducted a quantitative synthesis of studies carried out in sub-Saharan Africa focusing on crop yield (as an indicator of provisioning services), soil fertility, erosion control, and water regulation (as indicators of regulating/maintenance services). A total of 1106 observations were extracted from 126 peer-reviewed publications that fulfilled the selection criteria for meta-analysis of studies comparing agroforestry and non-agroforestry practices (hereafter control) in sub-Saharan Africa. Across ecological conditions, agroforestry significantly increased crop yield, total soil nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and available phosphorus compared to the control. Agroforestry practices also reduced runoff and soil loss and improved infiltration rates and soil moisture content. No significant differences were detected between the different ecological conditions, management regimes, and types of woody perennials for any of the ecosystem services. Main trade-offs included low available phosphorus and low soil moisture against higher crop yield. This is the first meta-analysis that shows that, on average, agroforestry systems in sub-Saharan Africa increase crop yield while maintaining delivery of regulating/maintenance ecosystem services. We also demonstrate how woody perennials have been managed in agricultural landscapes to provide multiple ecosystem services without sacrificing crop productivity. This is important in rural livelihoods where the range of ecosystem services conveys benefits in terms of food security and resilience to environmental shocks.

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“…Notably, trees in semi-arid regions may provide many ES that outweigh their increased water use, including fuelwood, timber poles, nutritional products and windbreaks 107 , improving soil properties such as porosity 108 , infiltration 109,110 , water storage capacity 111 , and nutrient cycling and soil fertility 112 . Trees may also increase water content in drylands by ameliorating microclimate and reducing soil evaporation 113,114 , or by hydraulic lift or redistribution [115][116][117] . In semi-arid areas of Africa, the positive effects of trees in cropping systems are exemplified by farmers' use of Faidherbia (Acacia) albida, a leguminous tree with a reverse phenological pattern relative to most other trees (e.g., leaves drop in the wet season and flush in the dry season), which may reduce competition for resources with crops during the growing season.…”

Section: Hydrologic Regulation and Water Purificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

Asbjornsen

Hernández‐Santana

Liebman

et al. 2013

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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250

168

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Over the past century, agricultural landscapes worldwide have increasingly been managed for the primary purpose of producing food, while other diverse ecosystem services potentially available from these landscapes have often been undervalued and diminished. The incorporation of relatively small amounts of perennial vegetation in strategic locations within agricultural landscapes dominated by annual crops-or perennialization-creates an opportunity for enhancing the provision of a wide range of goods and services to society, such as water purification, hydrologic regulation, pollination services, control of pest and pathogen populations, diverse food and fuel products, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme disturbances, while at the same time improving the sustainability of food production. This paper synthesizes the current scientific theory and evidence for the role of perennial plants in balancing conservation with agricultural production, focusing on the Midwestern USA as a model system, while also drawing comparisons with other climatically diverse regions of the world. Particular emphasis is given to identifying promising opportunities for advancement and critical gaps in our knowledge related to purposefully integrating perennial vegetation into agroecosystems as a management tool for maximizing multiple benefits to society. AbstractOver the past century, agricultural landscapes worldwide have increasingly been managed for the primary purpose of producing food, while other diverse ecosystem services potentially available from these landscapes have often been undervalued and diminished. The incorporation of relatively small amounts of perennial vegetation in strategic locations within agricultural landscapes dominated by annual crops-or perennialization-creates an opportunity for enhancing the provision of a wide range of goods and services to society, such as water purification, hydrologic regulation, pollination services, control of pest and pathogen populations, diverse food and fuel products, and greater resilience to climate change and extreme disturbances, while at the same time improving the sustainability of food production. This paper synthesizes the current scientific theory and evidence for the role of perennial plants in balancing conservation with agricultural production, focusing on the Midwestern USA as a model system, while also drawing comparisons with other climatically diverse regions of the world. Particular emphasis is given to identifying promising opportunities for advancement and critical gaps in our knowledge related to purposefully integrating perennial vegetation into agroecosystems as a management tool for maximizing multiple benefits to society.

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Soil infiltrability and water content as affected by Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and Néré (Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.) trees in farmed parklands of West Africa

Cited by 24 publications

References 28 publications

Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis

Cereal yield response to conservation agriculture practices in drylands of West Africa: A quantitative synthesis

Agroforestry delivers a win-win solution for ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa. A meta-analysis

Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services

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