Soil Erosion Control and Moisture Conservation Using Contour Ridge Tillage in Bougouni and Koutiala, Southern Mali

Traore, Kalifa and Birhanu, Z B (2019) Soil Erosion Control and Moisture Conservation Using Contour Ridge Tillage in Bougouni and Koutiala, Southern Mali. Journal of Environmental Protection (TSI), 10 (10). pp. 1333-1360. ISSN 2152-2197

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Abstract

Soil erosion is among the critical environmental constraint for crop production in southern Mali. Contour ridge tillage (CRT), a water conservation technique had been locally applied since 1990. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CRT compared with farmer conventional agriculture practice (NoCRT) on runoff, soil loss, nutrient loss, moisture conservation and cereals yields under rainfed conditions in two Southern Mali sites, in 2016 and 2017 in farmer fields. Measurements were performed on erosion plots composed of CRT and NoCRT plots from which water samples were collected to determine sedimentation levels, concentration and nutrients losses using pairwise comparison. Average runoff coefficient in NoCRT plots was 35.62% compared to 19.25% for the CRT plots explaining a runoff reduction of 46%. Mean soil losses of 12,095 t·ha−1 and 4970 t·ha−1 were respectively measured in NoCRT and CRT plots. Losses in calcium, magnesium and potassium nutrients in the NoCRT plots were 80%, 66%, 75% higher compared to CRT ones, respectively. Sorghum grain yield was at least two folds higher in CRT plots compared to the NoCRT plots. Maize average grain yield was 87% higher in CRT plots than in the NoCRT. For sustained soil productivity, CRT is advocated as a better soil and water management technique than the NoCRT one.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Research Program : West & Central Africa
CRP:	CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Runoff and Erosion, Nutrients Loss, Yields
Subjects:	Others > Soil Others > Water Harvesting Others > Water Conservation
Depositing User:	Mr Arun S
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2020 05:47
Last Modified:	27 Feb 2020 05:57
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/11381
Official URL:	https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2019.1010079
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	Africa RISING Project, CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystem (WLE)
Acknowledgement:	This work was funded by Africa RISING Project in West Africa and the Water Land and Ecosystem (WLE) CRP (CGIAR Research Program) Programs based in ICRISAT-Mali which coordinated all the activities. The funding source is USAID through IITA. Agreement No. AID-BFS-G-11-00002 to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). IITA has entered into sub-award Agreement with ICRISAT for participation and implementation of research activities under the project’s approved work plan. Additional funding from the Institute of Rural Economy of Mali is also gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Niaba TEME, senior scientist of the Institute of Rural Economy is acknowledged for his support for corrections on the earlier version of this article. We are grateful to Cheick oumar Dembele and Oumar Samake M.Sc. Soil Sciences, Institute of Rural Economy (IER) for helping data collection. Dicko Mahamadou Moctar. M.Sc. Climate Change and Human Security site coordinator at the technology park of Flola and Karamoko Traore. M.Phl. Extension; site coordinator at the technology park of Mpessoba for their support on data collection. AMEDD and FENABE NGOs for facilitating contact with collaborative farmers.
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