The Major Soils of a Village in Northern Burkina Faso

Abstract

Krogh, Lars: The Major Soils of a Village in Northern Burkina Faso. Geografisk Tidsskrift 93:90–100. Copenhagen 1993.

In the Oudalan Province of Sahelian Northern Burkina Faso soil investigations have been carried out in order to evaluate the sustainability of millet production with emphasis on the dynamics of soil fertility. Some results of pedological investigations carried out in 1990 are included. Three commonly occurring soil types in a village territory are examined and their genesis and fertility discussed. Analyses show that the soils are inherently low in organic matter. The level of macro-nutrients is low, soil structure is weak or unfavourable: all probably due to a combination of natural and human factors. Crop yields are generally low and cannot be raised without more intensive cultivation.

Keywords:

• Burkina Faso
• soil formation
• soil fertility
• semi-arid agriculture
• nutrients