INFLUENCE OF TREES DENSITIES IN WATER INFILTRATION IMPROVEMENT IN AGROFORESTRY PARKLAND IN BURKINA FASO

Abstract

Soil structure is an essential factor in soil organic carbon sequestration. Infiltration capacity (IC) is a key property for semi-arid soils because rains in this area fall with high flows. Objective of this study was to measure soil stability in Prosopis africana agroforestry parkland with contrasted trees density. Specifically, it was to compare water infiltration rate in plots. Study was carried in Saria research station in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Design used is a factorial with three repetitions. Only one treatment was applied. This is trees density which has 4 levels: Density 0 = 0 trees per hectare (Control); Density 1 = 434 trees ha-1; Density 2 = 217 trees ha-1 and Density 3 = 109 trees ha-1. Measurement was made using a single-ring infiltrometer. Change in water depth in cylinder was measured over 2h30 at time intervals. Infiltration rate and cumulative infiltrations for each period were calculated. Results show that presence of tree density impacted significantly water infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration. Density 1 and 2 had better infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration. This result show how the presence of trees in production system could lead to water properties and/or carbon sequestration improvement in these ecosystems.