Effects of Agroecological Practices on Soil Microbiological Activity in Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Burkina Faso

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Résumé

Microorganisms are key actors in soil quality.However, their activity is influenced by various factors including agricultural practices.This study aimed to assess the effects of 4 agroecological practices on soil microbiological activity in the Sudano-Sahelian area of Burkina Faso.These practices involved (a) the use of organic matter (OM) spread over a plot, with and without micro-dose mineral fertilization and (b) the localized application of organic manure in planting pits dug into hard pan land (zaï ), with and without cereal-legume rotation.Microbial biomass (MB) by fumigation-extraction and soil respiration by incubation-extraction were measured on 40 soil samples, taken at 0-10 cm depth.The results indicated higher cumulative values of carbon from respiration on plots with generalized application of OM, with and without mineral fertilizers (113 and 111 mg C-CO2/kg soil respectively), than on plots with localized application, with and without cereal-legume rotation (72.9 and 98 mg C-CO2/kg soil respectively).MB follows the same trend as soil respiration with lower values (21.9 to 50.9 mg C/kg soil respectively).Generalized application of OM with or without mineral fertilizers was more favorable to soil microbial activity.

Mots-clés

agroecological practices, soil microbial activity, soil microbial biomass, soil respiration, organic matter, organic manure, zaï, legume-cereal rotation, mineral fertilization, Sudano-Sahelian zone, Burkina Faso