Abstract
The availability and sustainability of water in rural areas are significant challenges facing agricultural producers in the Sahelian zones. Maize-legume intercropping with a mulch cover for water conservation with drip irrigation is a promising production practice for conserving water, increasing productivity and improving soil health. A randomized complete block trial with 04 replications and 08 treatments was established in Sonsongona (11.2522°N, 4.4559°W), a village located west of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Means separation by analysis of variance (ANOVA) was with RStudio 1.2.1335 software at the 5% threshold according to the Newman-Keuls test. The mulched treatments significantly affect soil moisture, maize growth, weed growth, and important maize yield attributes.
Highlights
Results a) Effects of mulching and legumes on soil moisture The effects of mulching and legumes on soil moisture content (Figure 3) showed that moisture content varied from one treatment to another depending on the measurement depth and production period
At the 7th day after planting (DAP) (Figure 3A), soil weight moisture varied in the overlying horizons from 11.25 ± 2.69% (MfLf) to 13.38 ± 2.35% (MwRC)
Concerning the effect of legumes on soil moisture, the results revealed that legumes tended to increase soil moisture compared to soil without cover crops at the 49th DAP of maize
Summary
This study is aimed to sustainably intensify the cropping system productivity of smallholder farmers by establishing a drip irrigation system to grow crops and legumes during the dry season
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