Impacts of Agricultural Activities on Land Degradation along the Bomboré River in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Land along the Bomboré River in the rural commune of Mogtédo in Burkina Faso is experiencing degradation. The explanatory causes of this degradation constitute the subject of this study. To do this, a survey was conducted among agricultural producers deployed along the watercourse. Soil profiles were described and samples were taken to analyze pH, soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and texture. The RUSLE model approach based on landstat8 OLI/TIRS and SRTM satellite images dated December 17, 2021 with fairly good radiometric, spatial, and spectral resolution was used to calculate the land loss rate. In terms of results, the potentially irrigable areas that spread out on both sides of the banks of the river cover 209.23 ha with a perimeter of 6.16 km. The number of irrigators is 26 producers and they grow 17.92 ha of vegetables. Soil analyzes indicate the presence of a moderate acid on the vertisol with a pH between 5.57 and 5.86. On the depth 0 - 30 cm of the horizon, the color of the horizons ranges from 5YR4/2 on the talweg and on the right bank to 7.5YR3/2 on the left bank and presents no risk of salinity because the electrical conductivity measured is less than 1dS/cm. The diagnosis of hydromechanical equipment shows that producers use 46 motor pumps for irrigation, of which 15 motor pumps run on gasoline and 31 motor pumps on butane gas with a ratio of 1.7 motor pumps per producer. The number of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes used by producers in combination with a motor pump gives an average of 44 per farmer. In terms of mineral fertilization, the gross doses used by producers are 415.53 kg/ha of NPK and 201.55 kg/ha of urea, while the quantities of phytosanitary products are 3.99 l/ha of pesticides and 1.42 l/ha of herbicides. Agricultural activities emit about 222,436.66 kgCO2eq into the atmosphere, whose emissions from motor pumps represent 84.52% of these total emissions. The land loss estimate gives an average rate of 2.30 t/ha/year of land loss. This loss is due to the effects of poor agricultural practices, water erosion, and the drainage channels and gullies created by the anarchic installation of dwellings around the edges of the river. This study calls for more monitoring actions to sustainably safeguard the soil and water resources of this river which contribute to the survival of more than 73,214 inhabitants.