This study aims to estimate the hydrodynamic properties of soils under various agricultural practices in the Tougou catchment in northern Burkina Faso. The methodology adopted is based on the determination of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity and capillary sorptivity close to saturation. This method relies on the measurement of the transient infiltration flux at the soil surface with imposed hydraulic head varying from -60 to -20 mm. These tests are carried out on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots. The results show a difference in hydrodynamic parameters according to the agricultural practices. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is 33.1 cm/h, 13.1 cm/h, 20.3 cm/h and 4.0 cm/h for zai, control, stony line and half-moon plots respectively. The pores participating to water transfer also differ. The mean size of drainable pores is 43.7, 56.2, 22.3 and 87.2 μm on control, stony line, half-moon and zai plots respectively.

Agricultural practice, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, sorptivity, soil, Tougou