Senegal River Valley Research Articles

Study of the Biodemographic Parameters of Two Genetically Distinct Strains of Callosobruchus maculatus from Two agroecological Zones of Senegal

During this study, we determined different biological parameters of Callosobruchus maculatus populations from two agro-ecological zones of Senegal (the ZSP and the ZVFS). To do this, strains of C. maculatus were collected in two localities, each representing an agro-ecological zone. The analysis of the results obtained shows that fecundity is greater for the strain coming from the silvopastoral zone (55.60 ± 19.144 eggs per female) than for that coming from the Senegal River valley zone (45 ± 18.577 eggs per female.). Furthermore, the evolution of egg laying shows that whatever the strain or population, more than 95% of eggs are laid during the first four days of the infestation with a peak on the second. In addition, the strains are characterized by an egg fertility rate exceeding 65% with a larval survival rate of over 75% and the Fouta strain has the highest rates. However, the emergence rate of the strain from the silvopastoral zone is lower at 49%. The longevity of adults in the Senegal River valley zone is significantly longer (11.035 ± 1.527 days) than that of adults in the silvopastoral zone. The sex ratio is in favor of males for both populations. The total development time and the oviposition-emergence time are relatively the same in the two strains with an average of 31 days and 21 days respectively.

Recherches archéologiques sur les amas coquilliers de la Basse Casamance : le cas de Niomoune dans les îles Bliss, Sénégal

Anthropogenic shellfish mounds exist in all the Bliss Islands (e.g., Niomoune, Hitou, Kandé), in Senegal. They are now threatened by anthropic activities and by the effects of climate change. In the perspective of rescue archaeology, our study focuses on the Niomoune shell mounds which are the most threatened. Of the eight clusters found at Niomoune, two are sacred (Arch 06 and Arch 08). Despite being reworked, these shell mounds are thought to predate the current settlement of Niomoune. Our prospecting and excavation work has enabled us to establish a material culture history including remains of ceramic, iron, and glass. The five charcoal samples dated by radiocarbon place the beginning of the occupation of Niomoune between 21AD and 204AD. This chronological sequence belongs to the early Iron Age in Senegal, which began in 1100 BC at Dialowali, Senegal River valley. This paper aims to determine the periods of the different human settlement dynamics at Niomoune based on the archaeological data, and to characterize the artefacts collected by placing them in the cultural ensembles of the Lower Casamance.

Assessment of agronomic performances of aromatic varieties in stations in the senegal river valley (vfs)

Senegal is one of the largest rice importing countries in West Africa with rice production that still fails to meet consumer demands. The State has made great efforts to make up for the deficit in local production by setting up the Program for the Acceleration of the Agricultural Cadence in Senegal (PRACAS) and the National Program for Self-sufficiency in Rice (PNAR), whose objective is to satisfy national demand with a halt in imports. To support this dynamic, the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA) has revised these research activities with the introduction of a major selection component for new high-yielding rice varieties with good grain quality. It is within this framework, in partnership with BAYER, that the ISRA of Saint Louis is evaluating new varieties of hybrid rice. This study attempts to evaluate the behavior of new hybrid varieties according to two sowing methods in the Senegal River Valley. The material is composed of two hybrid varieties 6444 GOLD and TEJ GOLD and a control Sahel 108. The device is in split-plot with the sowing methods in large plots and the varieties in small plots. The effect of the sowing method on the behavior of the varieties was only noted to be significant on the cycle at maturity; the hybrids have longer cycles than the control Sahel 108 both in direct sowing and in transplanting. The varieties have different agronomic behaviors only on the weight of 1000 seeds, the length of the panicle and the duration of cycles at 50% flowering. The TEJ GOLD variety has a long panicle and a good grain load per panicle. The best performances such as very good tillering ability (6444 GOLD) and good panicle load (TEJ GOLD) were recorded in the hybrids. These hybrids would behave better in direct seeding in terms of yield, unlike the control Sahel 108. From the above, we can say that the introduction of these hybrid varieties could significantly increase rice production and productivity and contribute to achieve our self-sufficiency in rice.

At the edge of the desert: The evolution of the Holocene environment in Lake Rkiz, Senegal River valley

The analysis of faunal remains, pollen grains and other palynomorphs from a 4 m long core recovered at Lake Rkiz, Mauritania (16.911420 N, −15.172668 W, 0 m asl) documents the major phases of marine intrusion in the Senegal River system during the Holocene. Lake Rkiz was exposed to marine waters from 10 to 4 ka: a brackish lagoon developed at 10 ka, followed by a mangrove between 8.7 and 7 ka both in a calm environment. Rhizophora populations were never developed, however, either because they did not reach the core site at the northern extremity of the lake, or because they were restricted to the Senegal River bed. After 7 ka, the environment became increasingly unstable and the mangrove was replaced by a more clearly marine environment. During the last two millennia, a new, discrete phase of marine intrusion is recorded at Lake Rkiz. Contemporary to that already noted in the Ferlo River valley which feeds the Senegal River through Lake Guiers to the south, it also testifies to a positive oscillation of the sea level. The evolution of the regional vegetation of Lake Rkiz follows that of North tropical Africa with the expansion of a gallery forest of tropical humid affinity dominated by Celtis during the AHP. As elsewhere in the Sahara and Sahel, tropical plant types co-occurred with Saharan ones attesting to a mosaic-like landscape.

Abundance of pests of flood recession maize (Zea mays L.) in the Senegal River Valley

Maize, a foodstuff of economic and nutritional importance, is grown in Senegal in four regions such as the Senegal River valley, especially in the cold season. However, maize is subject to many pests. In view of the damage they cause, a knowledge of the entomofauna remains interesting. The abundance of the entomofauna of floodplain maize in the river valley, particularly in Dembancané, was determined. Thus, a population of 590 individuals was collected. Consequently, the absolute and relative abundance and frequency of occurrence or Constance were evaluated. The Kruskall-wallis test was performed followed by the DUNN test. Following this a Fisher test and a Chi-2 test were performed. From the beginning of flowering to the beginning of ripening, the study covered 58 species of insects and 5 species of spiders belonging to eight orders. The absolute abundance of species varies according to the plot and the development phase. In addition, Heteroptera are the most represented with 35.46% followed by Coleoptera and Orthoptera with 26.24%. The contribution of each species in this study area differs as a result of the different values found of relative abundance and Constance.

Study of the Spatio-Temporal Variability of Rainfall in the Northern Region of Senegal

Senegal is a country of the Sahel. In this region, most of the populations live from agro-pastoral activities. The northern zone of Senegal is strongly influenced by river cultures. And the dynamics of the Senegal River are dependent on rainfall. The rainfall in the area is very closely linked to the dynamics of the atmosphere. The study of the spatio-temporal variability of rainfall in the northern region of Senegal requires quality rainfall observation data. It includes the Ferlo and the Senegal River valley, in particular the regions of Louga (department of Linguère included), Saint-Louis (departments of Dagana and Podor included) and Matam. These stations have been defined since Le Borgne (1988). The difficulty of having quality rain observation data can be resolved by using more accessible and good quality satellite data. Using satellite data, namely MSWEP, CRU, TAMSAT, ARC and PERSIANN, we showed the return of precipitation that appeared in 2000 and the unimodal cycle of precipitation in our study area. These data were validated using the correlation coefficient, the bias, the RMSE and the Nash index with observation data from the Regional Study Center for the Improvement of Adaptation to Drought (CERASS). The CRU data is then retained. Thus, this study made it possible to show the zonal distribution of rainfall in the northern zone of Senegal.

Diversity, distribution and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania, North-West Africa

Detailed knowledge about biodiversity distribution is critical for monitoring the biological effects of global change processes. Biodiversity knowledge gaps hamper the monitoring of conservation trends and they are especially evident in the desert biome. Mauritania constitutes a remarkable example on how remoteness and regional insecurity affect current knowledge gaps. Mammals remain one of the least studied groups in this country, without a concerted species checklist, the mapping of regions concentrating mammal diversity, or a national assessment of their conservation status. This work assessed the diversity, distribution, and conservation of land mammals in Mauritania. A total of 6,718 published and original observations were assembled in a spatial database and used to update the occurrence status, distribution area, and conservation status. The updated taxonomic list comprises 107 species, including 93 extant, 12 Regionally Extinct, and 2 Extinct in the Wild. Mapping of species distributions allowed locating concentrations of extant mammal species richness in coastal areas, along the Senegal River valley, and in mountain plateaus. Recent regional extinction of large-sized Artiodactyla and Carnivora has been very high (11% extinct species). From the extant mammals, 11% are threatened, including flagship species (e.g., Addax nasomaculatus and Panthera pardus). Species richness is poorly represented by the current protected areas. Despite the strong advances made, 23% of species categorise as Data Deficient. Persisting systematics and distribution uncertainties require further research. Field surveys in currently unexplored areas (northern and south-eastern regions) are urgently needed to increase knowledge about threatened mammals. The long-term conservation of land mammals in Mauritania is embedded in a complex web of socioeconomic and environmental factors that call for collaborative action and investment in sustainable human development. The current work sets the baseline for the future development of detailed research studies and to address the general challenges faced by mammals and biodiversity in the country.

Comparative Analysis of Meteorological Drought based on the SPI and SPEI Indices

The management of water resources in our states has become increasingly difficult in recent times due to the frequency and intensity of droughts. In the context of climate change, extreme weather and climate phenomena such as floods and droughts that are increasingly occurring have adverse consequences on the socio-economic development of the Senegalese territory. Droughts that affect water availability, agricultural production, and livestock operations are generally identified and characterized using drought indices. The objective of this paper is to analyze the hydrological drought trend in two Senegalese regions, the Senegal River valley and the Casamance basin, with different climatic characteristics (Sahelian continental climate and South Sudanian tropical climate, respectively) during the period 1981-2017. For this purpose, daily data from uniformly installed 8 meteorological stations in the two areas were examined, and trends in the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were also assessed. The similarities and differences between the indices of the two regions were then examined. In most stations in both areas, there is a statistically significant trend of increasing SPI and SPEI (75% of the stations for SPI and 87.5% for SPEI), despite some negative trends (e.g., SPI in Bakel, SPE and SPEI in Matam, SPEI in Saint Louis). Moreover, the trend of the indices averaged over the stations of the two indices, although generally positive in the two climatic zones considered (with the exception of the SPI in the valley where it is negative), is only significant in the Casamance basin zone. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-SP2022-03-02 Full Text: PDF

Contract Farming as a Last-resort Option to Finance Rice Cultivation in Senegal

We investigate the role of contracts in farmers’ access to credit over time using the conceptual framework of livelihoods and the economics of rural organisations. We applied multi-component analysis to a dataset of 594 rice farms in the Senegal river valley, analysed changes in 72 producer organisations’ funding strategies over time, and conducted 85 semi-directed interviews. Results show that individual farmers’ participation in contract farming varies over time, mainly depending on the availability of their financing capital. While bank creditworthy farmers use tripartite marketing contracts to remain in the formal segment of the credit market, indebted farmers use production contracts as a last-resort credit option before they are excluded from the credit market. We discuss the positive contributions contracts make to farmers’ livelihoods as they correct failures on the credit market, but they can also trap farmers in less economically profitable relationships.

Long-term fertility experiments for irrigated rice in the West African Sahel: Effect on macro- and micronutrient concentrations in plant and soil

Little is known about the impact of long-term intensive irrigated rice cropping on secondary macro and micronutrients in soils and crops. Therefore, the present study analysed the effect of intensive irrigated rice cropping on nutrient concentrations in soils and rice (grain and straw at harvest) in two long-term experiments that were established in 1991 for intensive rice-based irrigated systems in the Senegal River valley at Ndiaye and Fanaye, Senegal. The experiments included six different fertilizer treatments and rice was grown for two seasons per year. The samples were collected in the 2016/17 dry season (26 years or 52nd continuous rice cropping season after the establishment). Average grain yields from 1991 to 2016/17 for the different fertilizer treatments indicate that yield was limited by N and P at both sites. At Ndiaye, 120 kg N ha −1 seemed sufficient to reach highest achievable yields, whereas 180 kg N ha −1 was necessary at Fanaye. Soil organic carbon and total soil N did increase considerably over the full length of the experiment at both sites and in all treatments even though all crop residues were removed every season. The estimated increase in total topsoil N (across all fertilizer treatments) per season was 10.8 and 11.4 kg N ha −1 at Ndiaye and Fanaye, respectively. Fertilizer treatments differed in their N, P and K rate but significant effects on total soil concentrations were only detected for P. Using the Mehlich3 soil test, we analysed treatment effects on available P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Zn and Fe. Critical Mehlich3 values from the literature indicated likely P limitation at both sites and in all but one treatment (high PK treatment), a starting but minor K limitation at Fanaye, a strong S limitation at Fanaye, and a minor Zn limitation at Fanaye and Ndiaye. These indications were mostly confirmed by the grain and straw analysis but with the exception of the P limitation, the actual effect of these possible nutrient limitations on production would need to be tested with targeted field experiments. We conclude that continuous rice cultivation in the Sahel for 26 years can be sustained and even increases soil organic carbon and total soil nitrogen. However, in addition to the common N and P deficiencies, likely deficiencies of K, S and Zn are appearing and may begin to limit rice yields in intensive systems in Africa. The Mehlich3 test seems an efficient tool to identify such deficiencies in irrigated rice soils. • 26 years of continuous rice cultivation increased SOC and total soil N significantly • System N losses are therefore over-estimated when based on crop uptake only • Fertilizer application effects on total soil concentrations were only detected for P • The Mehlich3 method indicated possible upcoming limitations from K, S and Zn

Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activities of Water Lilies Seeds, Neglected and Underused Species in the Delta and Lower Valley of the Senegal River

Studies carried out in the delta and the lower valley have demonstrated, through ethnobotanical surveys, the importance of the species Nymphaea lotus L. and Nymphaea micrantha Guill. et Perr in the diet. The seeds are used in food and pharmacopoeia with a good appreciation by the indigenous population, especially in the diet of diabetics. However, studies on their biochemical aspects are still very rare in the literature. It is for this reason that this study was conducted to gather useful scientific information to allow a better appreciation of the pharmacological potentialities of these seeds. To do so, seeds were collected in ponds, tributaries of the Senegal River, dried in the shade, and divided into three different batches: a batch of red seeds of N. lotus, a batch of black seeds of N. lotus, and a batch of seeds of N. micrantha. Chemical screening, tannin, flavonoid, and polyphenol assays as well as antioxidant power of the seeds were carried out according to official standard methods. The results obtained in the qualitative analysis showed the presence of a high quantity of tannins, total phenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids, as well as a lower quantity of cardiac glycosides and the absence of anthracene compounds and saponosides in the seeds. The assay showed that Tannins are the highest (38.118 ± 0.021 to 118.132 ± 0.034 mg EAT/g DM) followed by flavonoids (24.057 ± 0.113 to 31.970 ± 0.087 mg EC/g DM) and polyphenols which are the lowest (0.544 ± 0.054 to 1.955 ± 0.120 mg EAG/g DM). In addition, these seeds have a high antioxidant power with high inhibition percentages, ranging from 83.92% ± 1.40% to 87.67% ± 0.16%. The promotion of their consumption could thus have a positive impact on the health of the populations of the Senegal River valley.

Exploring opportunities for diversification of smallholders' rice-based farming systems in the Senegal River Valley

CONTEXTPolicy-based or technological interventions are more likely to be effective if aligned with farmers' objectives, constraints, and decision-making processes. OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to explore trade-offs and synergies of farming systems in response to innovative rice cultivation activities by understanding current farming systems, main drivers impacting farm management and farmers' perspectives on rice intensification. Understanding these interrelations is key in rice production areas, where smallholder farmers largely depend on growing rice to subsist. METHODSA rapid system analysis was conducted interviewing 20 farmers in 4 villages along the Senegal River Valley (SRV) to obtain a general view on farm functioning and farmers' perspectives on farming systems. A detailed system analysis with four farmers was subsequently conducted to provide an insight into the underlying processes regulating farm management. A multi-objective optimization model was used to quantitatively evaluate and explore farm performances based on four selected indicators representing: rice production, household agricultural profit, household labour and farm nutrient balance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study showed that government programmes and farmers' Unions were strongly influencing farmers' decision-making in agricultural production. Farmers also reported that although rice was still essential for their livelihoods, there were transitions towards less rice production in the wet season with short duration rice varieties and more vegetable production. Both farmers' interviews and the modelling results suggested that farmers would be unlikely to increase or even maintain the area of rice double cropping, which has been strongly promoted by the Senegalese government. Instead, farmers would rather keep investing in vegetable production. SIGNIFICANCEThis modelling study shows the consequences of policy-based and technological interventions for farming systems and may inform both policy makers and farmers in situations where objectives are strongly divergent. Hence, modelling outcomes may be used to inspire discussion and innovation in order to align the government priority of ensuring national food security and farmers' objectives and constraints in the SRV.

It’s risky to wander in September: Modelling the epidemic potential of Rift Valley fever in a Sahelian setting

Estimating the epidemic potential of vector-borne diseases, along with the relative contribution of underlying mechanisms, is crucial for animal and human health worldwide. In West African Sahel, several outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) have occurred over the last decades, but uncertainty remains about the conditions necessary to trigger these outbreaks. We use the basic reproduction number (R0) as a measure of RVF epidemic potential in northern Senegal, and map its value in two distinct ecosystems, namely the Ferlo and the Senegal River delta and valley. We consider three consecutive rainy seasons (July-November 2014, 2015 and 2016) and account for several vector and animal species. We parametrize our model with estimates of Aedes vexans arabiensis, Culex poicilipes, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, cattle, sheep and goat abundances. The impact of RVF virus introduction is assessed every week over northern Senegal. We highlight September as the period of highest epidemic potential in northern Senegal, resulting from distinct dynamics in the two study areas. Spatially, in the seasonal environment of the Ferlo, we observe that high-risk locations vary between years. We show that decreased vector densities do not greatly reduce R0 and that cattle immunity has a greater impact on reducing transmission than small ruminant immunity. The host preferences of vectors and the temperature-dependent time interval between their blood meals are crucial parameters needing further biological investigations.

Screening of Rice Lines (Oryza spp L. 1753) for Salinity Tolerance at Vegetative Stage under Senegal River Valley Conditions

Rice (Oryza spp. L., 1753) is the most staple food cereal in Senegal. However, national production is low and cannot cover the country needs. Salinity limits rice production in Senegal River valley which is main rice growing area in Senegal. This study assessed salinity tolerance of 30 rice lines at vegetative stage in station of Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA) at Ndiol in Senegal River valley. Experimental design adopted was alpha lattice with three rehearsals. Observations were performed on plant height, main stem development and number of tillers. The level of salinity and pH in surface water, groundwater and soil were monitored. The results indicate that salinity affects plant height and tillering ability and among 30 lines, four were identified highly tolerant to salinity at vegetative stage. These are the varieties HK11-NDIOL-11-LON-1, D20-ART20-ARS-1, D56-ARS-NCRIB-1-1 and HK72-NIONO-5-1-1. The decision to incorporate these varieties in salinity tolerance breeding programs would depend on salt tolerance screening across all growing stages.

Impact of Marketing Contracts on the Rice Yield of Senegal River Valley Producers

Rice is a strategic commodity for Senegal. However, local supply covers only 20-30% of domestic demand. The paradox is that this local rice has difficulty being marketed. Thus, agricultural marketing contracts could be an excellent lever to address this problem of rice marketing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of these agricultural marketing contracts on the performance of producers in the Matam region using the LATE/LARF method. The data was collected in the Matam region in 2016-2017. The average local effect of treatment (LATE) has reduced the selection bias generated by observable and unobservable characteristics. The results of the estimate of the impact of the agricultural contract on the income of rice producers show that the participation of producers in the agricultural contract has increased their yields by about 2305.31 kg and income to 219,527.5 FCFA. The study allowed us to affirm that agricultural marketing contracts represent a resilient system of rice marketing in the Senegal River valley, as they can be a lever to link all the rice value chain’s stakeholders, for the benefit of everyone, especially small producers.

Cadmium, arsenic and lead accumulation in rice grains produced in Senegal river valley

Cadmium, arsenic and lead accumulation in rice grains produced in Senegal river valley

Role of environmental parameters on the density of intermediate host snails of human schistosoma during the year in the commune of Richard-Toll, Senegal

The implementation and expansion of development projects (dams and irrigation schemes) in the Senegal River valley have led to a significant proliferation of snails. We conducted a one-year (2014) study project, monitoring their density in the commune of Richard Toll, to assess the role of environmental parameters on mollusc population dynamics. Four species involved in the transmission of human schistosomiasis were found: Bulinus globosus, B. truncatus, B. senegalensis, and Biomphalaria pfeifferi. Among the intermediate hosts, B. truncatus is the most abundant species, followed by B. globosus. Snail density depends on the nature of the water point but also on environmental parameters such as vegetation. This study showed that vegetation, water level (flood), and flow velocity influence the dynamics of the snail populations that are intermediate hosts of human schistosomes.

Ecological distribution and population dynamics of Rift Valley fever virus mosquito vectors (Diptera, Culicidae) in Senegal

BackgroundMany zoonotic infectious diseases have emerged and re-emerged over the last two decades. There has been a significant increase in vector-borne diseases due to climate variations that lead to environmental changes favoring the development and adaptation of vectors. This study was carried out to improve knowledge of the ecology of mosquito vectors involved in the transmission of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) in Senegal.MethodsAn entomological survey was conducted in three Senegalese agro-systems, Senegal River Delta (SRD), Senegal River Valley (SRV) and Ferlo, during the rainy season (July to November) of 2014 and 2015. Mosquitoes were trapped using CDC light traps set at ten sites for two consecutive nights during each month of the rainy season, for a total of 200 night-traps. Ecological indices were calculated to characterize the different populations of RVFV mosquito vectors. Generalized linear models with mixed effects were used to assess the influence of climatic conditions on the abundance of RVFV mosquito vectors.ResultsA total of 355,408 mosquitoes belonging to 7 genera and 35 species were captured in 200 night-traps. RVFV vectors represented 89.02% of the total, broken down as follows: Ae. vexans arabiensis (31.29%), Cx. poicilipes (0.6%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (33.09%) and Ma. uniformis (24.04%). Comparison of meteorological indices (rainfall, temperature, relative humidity), abundances and species diversity indicated that there were no significant differences between SRD and SRV (P = 0.36) while Ferlo showed significant differences with both (P < 0.001). Mosquito collection increased significantly with temperature for Ae. vexans arabiensis (P < 0.001), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (P = 0.04) and Ma. uniformis (P = 0.01), while Cx. poicilipes decreased (P = 0.003). Relative humidity was positively and significantly associated with the abundances of Ae. vexans arabiensis (P < 0.001), Cx. poicilipes (P = 0.01) and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (P = 0.007). Rainfall had a positive and significant effect on the abundances of Ae. vexans arabiensis (P = 0.005). The type of biotope (temporary ponds, river or lake) around the trap points had a significant effect on the mosquito abundances (P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn terms of species diversity, the SRD and SRV ecosystems are similar to each other and different from that of Ferlo. Meteorological indices and the type of biotope (river, lake or temporary pond) have significant effects on the abundance of RVFV mosquito vectors.

Alternate phenotype–genotype selection for developing superior high-yielding irrigated rice lines

Increase grain yield potential is one of the most important objectives of any cereal crop breeding program. To efficiently develop superior rice lines by the introgression of favorable alleles for yield and yield component traits, a strategy of alternate phenotype–genotype selection was used. The present study aimed to (i) investigate the allelic diversity of loci associated with major yield-component traits and (ii) phenotype and genotype advanced populations derived from crosses between NERICA-L-20 and Giza178 for yield component traits using agro-morphological descriptors and GRiSP polymorphic markers to select superior high-yielding rice lines. A total of 100 F2:3 progeny were selected from 1000 F2 plants and genotyped with 16 polymorphic markers linked to four major yield-component traits. Four promising F2:3 lines (ARS 563–14, ARS 563–62, ARS 563–286, and ARS 563–41) bearing combinations of desirable alleles were selected. A selected set of 20 F2:4 lines showed moderate to high heritability for all target traits. Fourteen F2:5 lines derived from ARS 563–14 and 17 F2:5 from ARS 563–286 families were evaluated in preliminary trials to estimate yield gain. The three top lines, ARS 563–286–16-1-1, ARS 563–286–5-1-1, and ARS 563–14–10-1-1, showed an increase of more than 10% grain yield over the best check, Sahel 108, which is widely cultivated in the Senegal River valley. The 16 markers linked to the target yield component traits can be used to fast-track breeding programs targeting rice productivity.

Assessment of Hybrid Concentrated Solar Power-Biomass Plant Generation Potential in Sahel: Case Study of Senegal

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is non-existent in Sahel. Such a situation arises from the high investment costs required by these energy infrastructures and from a lack of information on the identification of suitable sites to accommodate them. Conversely, CSP-biomass plants due to lower investment may be an option for CSP penetration in Sahel where Direct Normal Irradiation (DNI) is between 1400 kWh/m2/year and 2000 kWh/m2/year and significant biomass potential. This work presents the results of an identification of suitable sites for hybrid CSP-Biomass in the Sahel, case study of Senegal, taking into account the Direct Normal Irradiation, the availability of water, space and biomass potential. The identified sites have a DNI > 1600 kWh/m2/year. The biogas production capacity is equivalent to 5,096,563 m3/year. The quantity of Typha Australis, invasive plant in Senegal river valley available is estimated at more than 3 million tons. The capacity of electrical energy in this zone is estimated at 6.89 GWe for an installation surface estimated at 275.61 km2. The establishment of CSP/hybrid plants can also contribute to combat the proliferation of Typha Australis.