Soil fertility restoration and sustainable land management using agroforestry in the Bougouni region: The case of the village of Mafele.

Abstract

Leuceana leucocephala, Gliricidia. sepium trees planted in alley cropping influence different soil properties. The objective of this study was to investigate, the effects of L. leucocephala (Lam.) and G. sepium on soil pH, organic matter content, total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium, determine the perception of farmers on agroforestry system in Mafele. The study covered two years. Four composite soil samples were taken to assess the fertility of the site. A soil sample were taken from the center of each elementary plot in each site. These samples were taken from the auger in the horizon 0-20 cm from the ground. They were sent to the Soil-Water- Plant laboratory of IPR/IFRA for the determination of the chemical properties of the soil. The different treatment were T0 and T1= Control plot (plot that did not received tree biomass); T2= Gliricidia and maize; T3= Gliricidia and sorghum; T4= Leuceana and maize; T5= Leuceana and sorghum; T6= Gliricidia and Leuceana with maize; T7= Gliricidia and Leuceana with sorghum, we have eight treatments repeated four times. The results showed that; total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium in the treatment plot with G. sepium and L. leucocephala were more than in control plot. The fresh biomass of gliricidia and leuceana buried improve soil fertility. Farmer’s perception concerned experience and information on the agroforestry system, the perception of producers on agroforestry systems in their fields, the sustainable land management measures they use in Mafele etc.