Effects of Spacing Between Stone-Rows on the Chemical and Biological Fertility of Lixisoils in Eastern Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of stone-rows spacing on soil fertility and the potential for   a fertility gradient to occur in a farming setting. The study was conducted in a rural area of Sampieri, eastern Burkina Faso, within a Sudano-Sahelian environment on Lixisols with a medium slope of up to 5%. The experimental design included three plots, each with a different stone-rows   spacing: 15.5 m (P1), 18.5 m (P2) and 22 m (P3). Soil samples were taken at depths of   0-10 and 10-20 cm, with interval ranging from 0 to 15 m from the rows. Soil organic carbon(C), total nitrogen (N), pH and soil microbiological activity were measured. The study showed that C, N, P and pH levels improved more on plots P2 and P1 than on plot P3. Although differences were noted for microbiology, they were not statistically significant.  A correlation was found and most soil fertility parameters. However, no soil fertility gradient was evident as a function of slope when moving away from the first stone-rows line. It can be concluded that the optimal spacing between stone-rows is 18.5 m and that it is difficult to deduce a fertility gradient within this interval. However, further research is needed   for validation and confirmation of these findings.