Soil erosion control and moisture conservation using contour ridge tillage in Bougouni and Koutiala, southern Mali

Soil erosion is among the critical environmental constraint for crop production in southern Mali. Contour ridge tillage (CRT), a water conservation technique had been locally applied since 1990. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of CRT compared with farmer conventional agriculture practice (NoCRT) on runoff, soil loss, nutrient loss, moisture conservation and cereals yields under rainfed conditions in two Southern Mali sites, in 2016 and 2017 in farmer fields. Measurements were performed on erosion plots composed of CRT and NoCRT plots from which water samples were collected to determine sedimentation levels, concentration and nutrients losses using pairwise comparison. Average runoff coefficient in NoCRT plots was 35.62% compared to 19.25% for the CRT plots explaining a runoff reduction of 46%. Mean soil losses of 12,095 t·ha−1 and 4970 t·ha−1 were respectively measured in NoCRT and CRT plots. Losses in calcium, magnesium and potassium nutrients in the NoCRT plots were 80%, 66%, 75% higher compared to CRT ones, respectively. Sorghum grain yield was at least two folds higher in CRT plots compared to the NoCRT plots. Maize average grain yield was 87% higher in CRT plots than in the NoCRT. For sustained soil productivity, CRT is advocated as a better soil and water management technique than the NoCRT one

Evaluating the impact of contour bunding technology on runoff, soil erosion and crop yield in southern Mali

United States Agency for International Developmen

Variations in agronomic and grain quality traits of rice grown under irrigated lowland conditions in West Africa

Rice breeding in West Africa has been largely skewed toward yield enhancement and stress tolerance. This has led to the variable grain quality of locally produced rice in the region. This study sought to assess variations in the agronomic and grain quality traits of some rice varieties grown in this region, with a view to identifying sources of high grain yield and quality that could serve as potential donors in their breeding programs. Forty‐five varieties were grown under irrigated conditions in Benin and Senegal with two trials in each country. There were wide variations in agronomic and grain quality traits among the varieties across the trials. Cluster analysis using paddy yield, head rice yield, and chalkiness revealed that 68% of the total variation could be explained by five varietal groupings. One group comprising seven varieties (Afrihikari, BG90‐2, IR64, Sahel 108, WAT311‐WAS‐B‐B‐23‐7‐1, WAT339‐TGR‐5‐2, and WITA 10) had high head rice yield and low chalkiness. Of the varieties in this group, Sahel 108 had the highest paddy yield in three of the four trials. IR64 and Afrihikari had intermediate and low amylose content, respectively, with the rest being high‐amylose varieties. Another group of varieties consisting of B6144F‐MR‐6‐0‐0, C74, IR31851‐96‐2‐3‐2‐1, ITA222, Jaya, Sahel 305, WITA 1, and WITA 2 had high paddy yield but poor head rice yield and chalkiness. The use of materials from these two groups of varieties could accelerate breeding for high yielding rice varieties with better grain quality for local production in West Africa

Hodgkin Lymphoma at the Paediatric Oncology Unit of Gabriel Touré Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali: 5-Year Experience

Introduction. The aim of this retrospective, unicentric study over 5 years is to describe the epidemiologic, pathologic, clinic and therapeutic aspects of children treated for Hodgkin lymphoma in our paediatric oncology unit. Patients and Methods. From January 2005 to December 2009, all children under 18 years of age, with Hodgkin lymphoma were included in this study. The treatment protocol was the GFAOP (Groupe Franco—Africain d'Oncologie Pédiatrique) Hodgkin lymphoma treatment protocol. Results. During the study period, 217 cancer cases were diagnosed in our centre. Of these cases, 7 were Hodgkin Lymphoma (LH) (0.04%). The mean age was 11.7 years. The sex-ratio was 6/1. 4% (5/7) of patients were stage IIB and 28.6% (2/7) stage IIIB of Ann-Arbor classification. There were 3 cases (42.8%) of sclero-nodular subtype, 2 cases (28.6%) of lymphocyte-rich classical HL subtype, 1 case (14.3%) of mixed cellularity and 1 case (14.3%) of lymphocyte depleted subtype. With a median followup of 37 months, 5 patients (71.4%) are alive, and 2 patients (28.6%) died. Conclusion. Broader multicentric studies are needed for more accurate data on this malignancy

Epidemiology of malaria in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system, south-central Côte d'Ivoire

A deep understanding of the local epidemiology of malaria is essential for the design and implementation of setting-specific control and elimination efforts. In Côte d'Ivoire, new initiatives are underway to reduce the burden of malaria, which requires high-quality longitudinal data. The epidemiology of malaria was studied in the Taabo health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in south-central Côte d'Ivoire and implications for control are discussed.; Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out in the rainy season of June/July in 2010 and 2011. Inhabitants of approximately 7 % of randomly selected households in the Taabo HDSS were invited to participate. People were clinically examined, ear temperature was measured and spleen size determined. Finger-prick blood samples were collected and subjected to a rapid diagnostic test (RDT). Additionally, thick and thin blood films were prepared on microscope slides and diagnosed under a microscope for Plasmodium infection and parasitaemia. Haemoglobin (Hb) level was determined using a HemoCue device.; A total of 1187 and 1264 people in 2010 and 2011, respectively, had complete data records. The prevalence of Plasmodium infection was 46.0 % in 2010 and 56.6 % in 2011, owing to a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Males showed a higher Plasmodium infection prevalence than females (49.6 and 62.8 % versus 42.6 and 51.2 %; respectively, in 2010 and 2011; both p < 0.05). The highest malaria prevalence was observed among infants and young children (aged ≤9 years). The risk of Plasmodium infection was significantly higher in villages compared to small hamlets and urban settings (p < 0.05). Fever, Hb level and splenomegaly were associated with parasitaemia.; Malaria is highly endemic in the Taabo HDSS in south-central Côte d'Ivoire with considerable spatial heterogeneity of Plasmodium infection. There is a pressing need to scale-up control interventions against malaria

Présentations de l’adénite tuberculeuse de la tête et du cou au CHU de Bobo- Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Les ganglions de la tête et du cou sont parmi les localisations les plus fréquentes de la tuberculose, un problème de santé publique dans le monde. Une étude rétrospective conduite entre 2001 et 2010 rapporte les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques de l'adénite tuberculeuse de la tête et du cou, au CHU Sanou Souro, au Burkina Faso. Au total, 115 patients ont été observés dont l'âge était compris entre 2 ans et 64 ans (moyenne 31,46 ans). Il y avait 53 patients de sexe masculin (46,1%) et 62 de sexe féminin (53,9%). Un pic de fréquence de 39,8 % était observé entre 30 et 39 ans. Les adénopathies cervicales étaient multiples chez 96,5% des patients et abcédées chez 30%. Elles étaient associées à des adénopathies extra cervicales chez 16,6% des patients. Chez 83,4% des patients, il a été noté un ou plusieurs signes à type d'asthénie et ou d'amaigrissement (70,8%), de fièvre 25% ou de toux (20,8%). L'infection associée la plus fréquente était celle par le VIH, observée chez 43,3% des patients. Les résultats de cette étude commandent la recherche systématique de l'infection par le VIH chez tout patient porteur d'adénite cervicale tuberculeuse dans un contexte de double endémicité de la tuberculose et de l'infection à VIH.Key words: Adénite, Tête et cou, Tuberculose, VI

Watershed management practices and hydrological modelling under changing climatic conditions in the semi-arid regions of Mali and Ghana

United States Agency for International Developmen

Improving crop-livestock productivity and household income through the use of contour bunding and agroforestry options

A field study was carried out at Kani, Noupinesso, and Mpessoba in the Soudano-Sahelian zone of Mali to assess the impact of tillage, soil fertilization, and leguminous crops on runoff, soil erosion, soil moisture, and the growth and yield of cotton, sorghum, and fast-growing tree species. Experiments of 2 types were conducted. The treatments for the first trial consisted of 2 tillage practices (contour bunding (CB) and no contour bunding (NCB) which was the farmers’ practice) and 4 types of soil fertilization on cotton (control, organic manure, micro-dose, and recommended dose). The same trial was conducted on 6 different farms. The second trial consisted of 2 tillage practices (CB and NCB) and 3 cultural systems; (sorghum sole crop, soybean sole crop, and intercropped sorghum*soybean); the same trial was conducted on 9 different farms and in the Technology Park of Mpessoba. The experiment was laid out in a Split Plot with 4 replications. CB out-yielded NCB in all the measured parameters. The percentage of runoff coefficient in NCB plots was 34.89 - 38.79% and was decreased by CB to 17.46 - 21.48%. CB increased the water table dynamic at Noupinesso; the distance of groundwater to soil surface decreased to attain a minimum value of 2.61 m for the measuring tubes in the CB plot, 4.58 m in the NCB plot, and 1.02 m next to the outlet of the watershed. CB increased soil moisture in the horizon 0 - 100 cm at the 3 sites. The differences were high at the horizon 60-100 cm and at the end of the rainy season. The soil horizon (0 - 100 cm) under trees was slightly more humid than outside the trees in NCB, and the difference was higher in the CB plot. Organic manure increased cotton yield by 25.3% in Remon Sanou’s field, biomass yield by 29.66% in the field of Salif Berthe, cotton height and diameter by 72.36% and 34.54% in the trial of Barnabe Traore. The application of manure produced significantly (p < 0.05) less cotton growth and production than the applications of micro-dose (T3) and scale doses (T4). The T4 increased cotton yield by 144.79% and T3 by 130.21% in Bourama Dembele’s field, and biomass yield by 99.03% and 93.70% respectively in Sekou Berthe’s field. The use of CB technology significantly affected the growth and yields of cotton for all the 6 trials. in the field of Barnabe Traore cotton yield was higher by 42.5% in the CB plot compared to the NCB. Cotton height with CB increased by 29.30% in the trial of Bourama Dembele. Micro-dose treatment gave the best profitability as indicated by the VCR in the range of 4 to 8 for the 6 trials. Intercropping soybean and sorghum increased sorghum growth and yields for all the 9 trials. In some of the trials, yields of sorghum associated with soybean got more than twice the yields of sorghum cultivated alone. The trial of Youssouf Berthe give 1138 kg ha-1 grain yield with sole sorghum cultivation and 2325 kg ha-1 for the intercrop. The use of tillage methods affected sorghum and soybean growth and yields for all the 9 trials: the use of the CB method increased grain and biomass yield of sorghum and soybean by 50% and their height and diameter by 30%. The CB technology increased the growth of Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala at the three research sites. Height (+35%), diameter (+25%), and crown radius (+40%) were increased in Gliricidia and in Leucaena by +58%, +69%, and +50% respectively. Key words: contour bunding, runoff and erosion, soil moisture, water table, micro-dose, intercropping, fodder plants