Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, D: Agriculture and Veterinary, Volume 21 Issue 7

accounts for more than 25% of GDP in African countries and is the primary source of income and employment for at least 65% of the African population (Heno et al., 2006). Agriculture contributes up to 30% of the regional GDP and employs more than 55% of the rural population (CEDEAO, 2015). In Burkina Faso, agriculture contributes 40% of the GDP and employs 86% of the active population (MAHRH, 2011). However, Burkina Faso faces chronic food insecurity because of adverse agro-climatic conditions and significant soil degradation leading to low crop yields. Agriculture is primarily a rainfed livestock-cropping system (Sonou, 2010). Demographic pressures and the subsequent loss of fallow land has further amplified this trend (Coulibaly, 2012). Therefore, increasing agricultural productivity is a significant challenge for Burkina Faso. Irrigation can help to create additional household income beyond the rainy seasons by focusing on high-value cereals crops such as maize. Drip irrigation increases agricultural productivity by reducing the vulnerability of plants to water stress since the difficulties associated with irrigation are limited to the irrigation frequency and the insufficient subsoil water by capillary action (Tapsoba, 2016, Millogo et al., 2021). Among the current irrigation methods, drip irrigation appears to be the most efficient (Sonou, 2010; Millogo et al., 2021). It provides uniform distribution and efficient water use for the plant (Millogo et al., 2021). The efficiency of drip irrigation is 90% to 95% compared to 40% to 45% for gravity irrigation and 80% for sprinkler irrigation (Sonou, 2010). Despite water management efforts, declining soil fertility remains another problem many farms face (Coulibaly et al. , 2012a). Continuous land use leads to low carbon and declining soil organic stocks (Coulibaly et al., 2012a). This land utilization, combined with the transfer of nutrients for crops such as maize, is one factor that maximizes the risk of declining soil fertility with the significant consequence of lower crop yields. Given the importance of legumes in nitrogen fixation, their association with cropping systems as alternatives to nitrogen fertilization appears to be a reasonable approach. According to Coulibaly et al. (2012a); Crasky et al. (2003), legume systems provide sustainable soil fertility management through atmospheric nitrogen (N) fixation. By improving the nitrogen status of the soil, legumes increase cereal yields (Azontondé, 1993; Rusimanhodji et al., 2012; Coulibaly et al., 2017a; Coulibaly et al., 2017b). The maize and legume association represents an alternative in managing risks and uncertainties for farmers faced with global changes (Coulibaly et al., 2017a). Despite their importance in cropping systems, there is little evidence of their impact on dry season cereal production. For legumes to become an essential part of cropping systems, it is necessary to look at their effects on dry season cereal production. There is a need to investigate the intercropping and mulching effects on maize productivity in the dry season under drip irrigation. This study is aimed to sustainably intensify the cropping system productivity of smallholder farmers by establishing a drip irrigation system to grow crops and legumes during the dry season. The solar panel drip irrigation system was designed, implemented, and tested in 2018 by the USAID-funded Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (ASMC) team. A paper was published on its water distribution and use efficiency (Millogo et al., 2021). The objectives of the study reported in this paper were to study effects of intercropping maize with legume combined with mulching on dry season maize yield and soil water parameters. II. M ateriel and M ethods a) Overview of the study area This study was conducted at Sonsongona village (04°16' West longitude and 11°60' North latitude) of (Figure 1A), located 20 km from Bobo-Dioulasso city centrum nearby Bobo-Dioulasso-Banzon corridor. The village is part of the commune of Bobo-Dioulasso in the Houet province, which, together with the provinces of Tuy and Kénédougou, are the Hauts-Bassins Region. Sonsongona is located in the southern Sudanian climate with annual rainfall between 800 and 1200 mm. It is characterized by a dry season (November to April) during which the Harmattan blows and a rainy season (April to November) dominated by the monsoon. The inter-annual variability of rainfall ranges from 723.7 mm in 2017 to 1303.8 mm in 2018 with 51 and 70 rainy days, respectively (Figure 1B). The intra-annual variation is marked by a total annual rainfall of 1303.8 mm on 70 rainy days (Figure 1C). The soil at the study site is sandy loam on the surface and clayey at depth with an acid pH and low humus content (Table 1).The vegetation is a wooded savannah divided into three strata: woody, shrubby and herbaceous, with open forests on the shallows and along the river (Guinko and Fontès, 1995). Table 1: Physical and chemical property of the soil Sable Limon Argile Humus pH 62,66 2166, 15,67 Faible 6,8 Source: (Yé, 2018; Millogo et al., 2021). © 2021 Global Journals 1 Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXI Issue VII Year 2021 2 ( D ) Version I Effects of Cereal-Legume Intercropping and Mulching on Maize ( Zea Mays L.) Productivity in Dry Season using Drip Irrigation in South-Sudanian Climatic Zone of Burkina Faso