Impacts Socioéconomiques Et Sanitaires De L’exploitation Agricole De La Plaine Inondable Todé- Gbamè Au Bénin

The present study aims to determinate the prevalence of the diseases linked to the agricultural exploitation of Todé-Gbamè plain liable to flooding in Benin and to assess the related work wasting times. To reach the study’s objectives, sanitary, economic and social investigations were conducted with the farmers and health workers of the Commune of Adjohoun. Inquiry was also based on agronomic trial regarding maize yield in the plateau and the plain liable to flooding. The study revealed that soils fertility and farmers income are higher in the plain than that of the plateau. Moreover, the annual prevalence of diseases are globally high in the plain liable to flooding, followed by both plain and plateau and finally by the plateau with the paludism at the top and present at 100% in the three areas. Then, we have respiratory infections, gastroenteritis and dermatosis with a remarkable presence in the plain and both plain and plateau. Finally, the dermatosis was not recorded in the plateau. Consequently, the annual loss working days due to diseases were globally high in the plain liable to flooding, followed by both plain and plateau. With regards to this critical situation, the main identified causes are cropping practices and less advisable farmers’ behaviors in Todé-gbamè’s plain liable to flooding. That is why; it is urging to enhance the technical capacities of the farmers of the study area through a subsequent trainin

Tillage, Rice Straw Mulch and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Upland Rice Yield in Northern Benin

In Benin, upland rice is typically grown under intensive tillage in slash-and-burn systems. Some of the major constraints associated with upland rice production are water deficit, declining soil fertility and rice yield. To explore effective ways to improve rice yield, field experiments were conducted on two upland rice soils (Lixisol and Gleyic Luvisol) in northern Benin, West Africa for two consecutive years. The treatments comprised two tillage systems (no-tillage, and manual tillage), two rice straw managements (no rice straw, and rice straw mulch at 3 Mg ha-1) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (no nitrogen, moderate level of nitrogen: 60 kg ha-1, and high level of nitrogen: 120 kg ha-1). Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied to be non-limiting at 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 and 40 kg K2O ha-1. Four replications of the twelve treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design. Soil moisture and soil temperature were measured at 5 cm depth in 6 to 10 days intervals during the growing seasons. At maturity, crop parameters measured included rice grain yield, aboveground biomass, and root biomass. No-tillage with rice straw mulch increased soil moisture and decreased soil temperature. Root biomass, shoot biomass and rice yield significantly increased with rice straw mulch and nitrogen fertilizer application. The highest response of rice yield to nitrogen fertilizer addition was obtained for 60 kg N ha-1 in combination with 3 Mg ha-1 of rice straw for the two tillage systems. No-tillage combined with rice straw mulch and 60 kg N ha-1 could be used by smallholder farmers to improve soil water availability and upland rice yield in northern Benin. Keywords: management practices, soil moisture, soil temperature, upland rice, yield