Effects of different inputs of organic matter on the response of plant production to a soil water stress in Sahelian region

Abdoulaye  Badiane; Ndeye Yacine Badiane  Ndour; Fatou  Guèye; Saliou  Faye; Ibrahima  Ndoye; Dominique  Masse

doi:10.4236/ns.2012.412125

NS Vol.4 No.12 , December 2012

Effects of different inputs of organic matter on the response of plant production to a soil water stress in Sahelian region

Abdoulaye Badiane, Ndeye Yacine Badiane Ndour, Fatou Guèye, Saliou Faye, Ibrahima Ndoye, Dominique Masse

Abstract: The aim was to study the effects of organic management like the application of organic matters on crop production. This research is placed in the context of climate change impact mitigation. A field experiment was conducted during the dry season. Rainfall inputs were simulated by irrigation to study the effects of water stress during the flowering period of a grain on the agronomic and the physiological behavior of the plant. The measurements were made on the volumetric soil moisture, stomatal conductance, and leaf area index (LAI), grain yield, straw and weight of 100 grains. The water use efficiency (WUE) and yield losses were evaluated. The results of the volumetric soil moisture showed that the use of localized input under water stress (STR-T1) recorded the lowest moisture in the surface horizons. Treatment with localized input under water stress with or without fertilization (STR-T1, STR-T1 + N) showed an ability of stomatal regulation compared to the control (STR- T0) and the input application by spreading (STR- T2). (STR-T1 + N) has initiated an early stomatal closure of the plant because of the effect of nitrogen. However, despite a more pronounced water stress with stomatal closure, the LAI and the grain yield were greater with (STR-T1) and (STR-T1 + N). The results showed that the inputs of localized organic fertilization with or without nitrogen grain yields were the highest regardless of the hydric regime applied. However the losses of grain yield were higher in treatments with organic inputs in spreading and localized under water stress. The WUE by the crop was reduced compared to the control with organic inputs under STR. In this study we show that the use of organic matter increases de farmers risk and this notion of risk is high and it is necessary to consider this risk in the proposals of technical innovations.

Keywords: Organic Matter; Water Stress; Volumetric Soil Moisture; Stomatal Conductance; Leaf Area Index

Cite this paper: Badiane, A. , Ndour, N. , Guèye, F. , Faye, S. , Ndoye, I. and Masse, D. (2012) Effects of different inputs of organic matter on the response of plant production to a soil water stress in Sahelian region. Natural Science, 4, 969-975. doi: 10.4236/ns.2012.412125.

References

[1] IPCC (2007) Climate change. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC, Geneva, 103 pages.

[2] Farré, I. and Faci, J.M. (2009) Deficit irrigation in maize for reducing agricultural water use in a Mediterranean environment. Agricultural Water Management, 96, 383-394. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2008.07.002

[3] Pandey, R.K., Maranville, J.W. and Amdou, A. (2000) Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effect on maize in sahelian environment. I. Grain yield and yield components. Agricultural Water Management, 46, 1-13. doi:10.1016/S0378-3774(00)00073-1

[4] Traoré, S.B., Carlson, R.E., Pilcher, C.D., Rice, M.E. (2000) Bt and Non-Bt maize growth and development as affected by temperature and drought stress. Soil Sciences Society of America Journal, 92, 1027-1035.

[5] Sun, B., Zhou., S.L. and Zhao., Q.G. (2003) Evaluation of spatial and temporal changes of soil quality based on geostatistical analysis in the hill region of subtropical China. Geoderma, 115, 85-99. doi:10.1016/S0016-7061(03)00078-8

[6] Affholder, F. (1994) Variabilité des rendements du mil pluvial en milieu paysan Sénégalais: Influence de l’alimentation hydrique, de la gestion de la fertlité et du contr?le de l’enherbement. In: Reyniers, F.N. and Netoyo, L. Eds., Bilan Hydrique et Sécheresse en Afrique Tropicale, J. Libbey Eurotext, Paris, pp. 191-203.

[7] Affholder, F. (1995) Effect of organic matter input on the water balance and yield of millet under tropical dryland condition. Field Crops Research, 41, 109-121. doi:10.1016/0378-4290(94)00115-S

[8] Roberson, E.B., Sarig, S., Sheunan, C. and Firestone, M.K. (1995) Nutritional management of microbial polysaccharide production and aggregation in an agricultural soil. Soil Sciences Society of America Journal, 59, 1587-1594. doi:10.2136/sssaj1995.03615995005900060012x

[9] Wander, M.M., Traina, S.J., Stinner, B.R. and Peters, S.E. (1994) Organic and conventional management effects on biologically active soil organic matter pools. Soil Sciences Society of America Journal, 58, 1130-1139. doi:10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800040018x

[10] FAO (2006) World reference base for soil resources. A framework for International classification, correlation and communication. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 103 pages.

[11] Di Paolo, E. and Rinaldi, M. (2008) Yield response of corn to irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in a Mediterranean environment. Field Crops Research, 105, 202-210. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2007.10.004

[12] Kramer, P.J. (1983) Water Relations of Plants. Academic Press, New York, 404-406.

[13] ?akir, R. (2004) Effect of water stress at different development stages on vegetation and reproductive growth of corn. Field Crops Research, 89, 1-6. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2004.01.005