This study was initiated to evaluate the effects of the combined use of organic fertilizers and micro-dose fertilization on the agronomic and economic performance of maize cultivation. The trial was conducted in a completely randomized Fisher block design with 4 repetitions and 9 treatments: T0 (micro-dose) NPK 62.5kg/ha+ Urea 62.5kg/ha, T1 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ mulch+ zaï), T2 (micro-dose+ 5t/ha manure+ mulch+ zaï), T3 (micro dose+ 5t/ha compost+ Moringa extract+ mulch+ zaï), T4 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ Magnesium sulfate+ mulch+ zaï), T5 (micro-dose+5t/ha compost+ Liquid fertilizer+ mulch+ zaï), T6 (Micro-dose+5t/ha manure+ Moringa extract+ mulch+ zaï), T7 (micro-dose+5t/ha manure+ Magnesium sulfate+ mulch+ zaï) and T8 (micro-dose + 5t/ha manure + liquid fertilizer + mulch + zaï). Fertilizers and crops were also the subject of an economic evaluation to see their profitability. The economic evaluation showed that the T7 treatment gave the best margin which varied between -4185 and 309535 FCFA/ha depending on the selling prices of corn which can vary from 135 to 250 FCFA/kg. However, the RV/C of all treatments was less than 1.5 and would therefore be subject to rejection if they were offered to producers. In view of these results, we suggest that a socio-economic assessment be made between conventional and agroecological production by integrating the social and environmental dimensions to measure the impacts.
Given the climatic variability of recent years, characterized by numerous pockets of drought in the western zone of Burkina Faso, the application of zaï technology could be an alternative to cope with rainfall deficits. With this in mind, a zaï trial was set up at the INERA station in Farako-Bâ in a completely randomized Fisher block design with seven (7) treatments, including T0 (no zaï+compost+MD), T1 (zaï 15 cm+compost), T2 (20 cm+ compost), T3 (zaï 30 cm+ compost), T4 (zaï 15 cm + compost +MD), T5 (zaï 20 cm + compost +MD), T6 (zaï 30 cm + compost +MD). The parameters observed were the size of the zaï holes and the maize yield. The results show that treatments T5 (zaï 20 cm + compost +MD) and T6 (zaï 30 cm + compost +MD) have respectively the best performances in terms of grain yield (2.69 t/ha and 2.68 t/ha) and straw yield (4.1 t/ha and 3.6 t/ha). The results of this study show that zai technology associated with micro-dosing of fertilizer can be adapted in the South Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso and can be a means of adaptation to increasingly difficult rainfall conditions marked by pockets of drought. zaï holes with diameters of 20 and 30 cm increase maize crop yields.
In Burkina Faso, agriculture is the basis of the country's social and economic development. In the wake of the oil crisis of the 2000s, Jatropha curcas has generated renewed interest from stakeholders in biofuel production and its use to mitigate the effects of climate change. Despite this certain enthusiasm, very little work has been done on the cultivation of Jatropha curcas. It is within this framework that this research work is part of which the overall objective is to study the impact of Jatropha curcas on the physical and chemical properties of soils in the South Sudan area of Burkina Faso. To do this, an activity was carried out on the establishment of an assessment system in farmers' plantations in the villages of Torokoro and Tin in order to collect information on the impact of the plant on soil properties. The results of the study indicate that the soils are richer in nutrients under the crown of Jatropha curcas. The plant improves the soil's carbon content by 17 to 21% compared to the Jatropha-free field. The cultivation of Jatropha curcas could therefore be considered to combat land degradation in the South Sudan area.
Climate changes have sever threats on food security in subsistence farming systems of Burkina Faso where agricultural production is strongly base on rainfall. Soil and water conservation techniques such as zaï and improved seeds of sorghum (Sorgum bicolor L.) were tested and adopted in the drier zones of the North as adaptation technologies to the climate changes. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the combination of improved sorghum variety (Sariasso 11) with zaï technology on its yields performance in the context of climate changes. The trail was conducted in field conditions and 10 farmers were concerned. The different treatments were randomly distributed according to a Fisher block design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates in the villages of Loaga and Sika. Measurements were carried out on the components of sorghum yield, and soil parameters. The results showed that the treatment « zaï compost + improved seeds» adapt better to the climatic changes. It allowed a better development of the sorghum and grain yield increased by 3 compared to the control. Chemical parameters of the soil were significantly improved, and the pH reached a value of approximately 6.5 in this treatment. The combination of the two techniques permits therefore to improve the resilience of the agricultural production facing the climate changes.