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Faidherbia albida (Delile) Tree Dieback Effects on Crop Production in the Parkland Agroforests of Southwestern Niger
Faidherbia albida is an agroforestry tree species playing important agroecological and socioeconomic roles in arid and semiarid zones in Africa. For many years, anthropogenic and abiotic stresses were considered as the main threats for the species in West African parkland agroforests. Considerable dieback has recently occurred in F. albida trees of parkland agroforests in central southwestern Niger, and the causes are unknown. The e objectives of this study are to (i) investigate the magnitude of dieback of F. albida trees and (ii) assess local community perceptions of the effects of F. albida dieback on crop production. The health status and phenology of 213 F. albida trees were observed in the area where the dieback is occurring. Similarly, a sample of 144 people, 86% of which were farmers, was surveyed. Dieback incidence of F. albida trees was 19%, with mortality of 6%. Large-diameter trees had greater dieback than small-diameter trees. The most affected parts of the tree were the branches at 54% and the trunks at 39%. The populations noted a 33–55% reduction in the yields of major crops. This dieback of F. albida trees poses a serious threat to the survival of rural communities. Further studies can be conducted to identify the cause or cause of the dieback to guide the suitable agroforestry parkland management strategies. -
Restoring Plant Succession on Degraded Crusted Soils in Niger: a Case Study Using Half Moons, Tree Seedlings and Grass Seed
We assessed a restoration treatment (planting tree seedlings and sowing grass seeds as nurse plants in waterharvesting half-moon pits) on degraded, compacted soils with surface crusts in Niger. Height and above-ground biomass of herbaceous plant species, tree stem circumference, and relative cover of erosive crust, gravel crust, bare ground, rock, litter, and total vascular plants were assessed at three sites with similar environmental conditions but different treatment periods (3, 5, 7 years). Species richness, evenness and Shannon-Weaver index were lowest at the 7-year site and highest at the 5-year site. Above-ground biomass of herbaceous plants and percent plant cover were lowest at the 3-year site and highest at the 7-year site. -
Effet de la combinaison Régénération Naturelle Assistée (RNA) et microdose d’engrais sur la production du mil (Pennisetum Glaucum (L.) R.Br) dans les zones agro-écologiques du centre-sud du Niger
Cette étude vise à identifier la microdose optimale d’engrais dans les champs de production du mil, où des pratiques de la régénération naturelle assistée (RNA) sont déjà réalisées. L’expérimentation a été conduite dans 26 villages pratiquant la RNA, dont 10 villages dans la zone sahélienne stricte, 10 villages dans la zone sahélo-soudanienne et 6 villages dans la zone nord soudanienne du centre-sud du Niger. Un dispositif en bloc randomisé est installé dans chaque village comportant 5 traitements (RNA; RNA + Fumure organique (F); RNA+F+NPK; RNA + Phosphate naturel de Tahoua (PNT) + F; RNA+PNT) et un témoin suivant les quatre points cardinaux. Les paramètres mesurés sont : la croissance en hauteur, le nombre de talles, les rendements en grains et en paille de mil. Les résultats ont montré que la hauteur moyenne la plus élevée des plants est obtenue pour le traitement RNA+PNT dans la zone sahélienne stricte (283,9±86,2 cm) et le nombre élevé de talles moyens pour le témoin de la zone nord-soudanienne (10,04±3,1). Dans toutes les zones, le traitement RNA+F+NPK a permis d’obtenir les plus grands rendements moyens en grains et en paille de mil.