Growth Environment of Sloped Millet Field in the Southwestern Niger and Effects of Introducing Contour Ridges
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Accession number;03A0395292
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| Title;Growth Environment of Sloped Millet Field in the Southwestern Niger and Effects of Introducing Contour Ridges |
| Author;
NAGANO TAKANORI
(Res. Inst. Humanity and Nature, JPN)
HORINO HARUHIKO
(Univ. of Osaka Prefect., Grad. Sch.)
MITSUNO TOORU
(Kyoto Univ., Graduate School of Agriculture, JPN)
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Journal Title;Transactions of the Japanese Society of Irrigation, Drainage and Reclamation Engineering
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Journal Code:S0345A
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ISSN:0387-2335
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VOL.;NO.224;PAGE.193-203(2003)
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| Figure&Table&Reference;FIG.15, TBL.2, REF.21 |
| Pub. Country;Japan |
| Language;Japanese |
| Abstract;A Study on conservation of sloped pearl millet field was conducted from year 1998 to 2000 in the southwestern part of Niger in West Africa. Contour ridges were constructed on a 0.6ha test field with different intervals and their effects on water balance and plant growth were observed. Sandy soil in the region had quite high hydraulic conductivity and low water retention capacity. However, infiltration was limited by formation of crust. Millet growth was adversely affected by water-harvesting function of contour ridges because of over-humidity and leaching of nutrient with excess soil water. Surface permeability in the field reflected erosion history before the construction of the ridges. Eroded and thus less permeable surfaces had higher clay content. While plant growths at highly permeable points were greatly affected by variation of rainfall year to year, less permeable points were more stable in production. It was because soil water retention in the top 60cm was not significantly different in all points and highly permeable points were more susceptible to nutrient leaching in high rainfall years. In this region contour ridges contribute to soil conservation rather than water-harvesting, which will, in long run, enhance accumulation of coarse sand. In this way, permeability of eroded surface can be rehabilitated and become more productive. (author abst.) |
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