In maize-producing farms in the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso, the factors that guide the choice of peasant practices are linked to the type of maize field and the socio-economic conditions of farmers. The study conducted in 2020 aimed to identify the determinants and socio-economic logics of the choice of peasant practices in maize-producing farms. Data were collected from 100 farm heads in four (4) villages: Ouroubonon, Dio, Waly and Sangoulema. Stratified sampling made it possible to randomly select maize farms regardless of their number in the villages concerned. Variables of socio-economic characteristics and cropping systems were collected and then multiple correspondence and frequency analyses were carried out. The study showed that the socio-economic factors that best discriminate the choice of farming practices are age, level of education and/or literacy, household size and number of agricultural workers. The farmers of the three types of fields are divided into different age groups. However, those in the 30 to 40 and 40 to 56 age groups are the most numerous and represented in all fields. The 40 to 56 age group includes the largest proportion of farmers regardless of the type of field. The youngest and oldest farmers are found exclusively in village and bush fields. Farmers in these last two types of fields have larger households and agricultural assets. Investment costs per hectare for the purchase of NPK fertilizers and urea are higher in village fields than in hut and bush fields. The recommended doses of organic and mineral manure are applied only in village fields by some groups of farmers. However, the lowest doses are found in bush fields with non-recommended application methods.

Understanding farmers soil fertility management practices allow to conduct efficiently agricultural development programs and appropriate researches. This study was conducted in western Burkina Faso, in the Hauts-Bassins and Boucle du Mouhoun regions. The objective is to determine agricultural production systems and farmers soil fertility management practices on corn farms. The analysis of diversity was carried out by surveys in the form of individual interviews administrated to 100 maize productors. Ultimately, depending on production systems, farming practices and geographic position, three types of maize farms have been identified: scrubland fields which represent 81% of maize farms and which have the lowest yields (1784 ± 640 kg / ha); the village fields representing 12% with a yield of 2250 ± 899 kg / ha and finally the shebang fields representing 7% with a yield of 2529 ± 787 kg / ha. Among the cultural operations, plowing and weeding are carried out by harnessing. Regarding organic fertilization, 43.7% of farmers use compost made from various domestic substrates. The fertilization regimes in the scrubland fields, village fields and shebang fields were respectively 12, 6 and 4. The fertilization regime of 150 kg / ha of NPK + 50 kg / ha of urea corresponding to the dose recommended on cotton is the most common. The high number of fertilization regimes negatively influenced the yields in the bush fields. Thus, the yield by type of field was strongly correlated with farmers organo-mineral fertilization practices (r> 0.60). The intakes of the doses of NPK are fractionated unlike those of urea. The main source of fertilizer supply for farmers (67.8%) is cooperative credit.