Survival and growth responses of Jatropha curcas L. to three restoration techniques on degraded soils in Burkina Faso

Land degradation is a major problem in the Sahelian countries. Erosion control through establishment of vegetation cover is at important strategy to reverse the trend. Our research objective was to analyse the e-ffects of three restoration techniques on Jatropha curcas L. seedlings growth and survivorship. Were conducted two separate field trials, involving the sowing and planting of J. curcas, in which several different soil restoration techniques were applied. The trial was monitored using a ran-domized block study design over a period of two years. The design included ten different treatments, six in the sowing trial and four in the planting trial, each with three replicates. In the first experiment, growth rate was found to be significantly higher in the Sub-Soiling treatment, that received additional organic matter than other treatments. However, overall survival rate was low (18%). In the second experiment, the Half-moon treatment yielded a significantly higher growth both in height (df = 3, F = 56.74, p < 0.05) and diameter (df = 3, F = 31.76, p < 0.05) and survival rate compared to those of the other treatments (df = 3, F = 50.4, p < 0.05). In conclusion, planting seedlings produced a greater survival rate than sowing seeds. Among tested the soil restoration and water conservation techniques the Half-moon technique was found as the most effective. This is recommended to be used for improving the revegetation of J. curcas in the future

Diversité et écologie des groupements ligneux des formations ripicoles du Burkina Faso (Afrique de l’Ouest)

Dans les milieux ripicoles, les inondations, souvent extrêmes créent de multiples microhabitats colonisés chacun par une communauté végétale spécifique. L’objectif de cette étude est de décrire les groupementsvégétaux ligneux des milieux ripicoles dans les quatre secteurs phytogéographiques du Burkina Faso en relation avec la microtopographie. Un total de 317 relevés phytosociologiques a été réalisé selon la méthode de Braun-Blanquet. L’ordination et la classification hiérarchique ont été utilisées pour la discrimination des groupements. Des indices de diversité ont été calculés pour chaque groupement. Au total, 264 espècesligneuses réparties en 166 genres et 60 familles ont été recensées. Les familles dominantes sont les Rubiaceae (10,61%), les Leguminosae-Mimosoideae (7,95%), les Leguminosae-Papilionoideae (7,58%), lesEuphorbiaceae (7,20%), les Combretaceae (6,82%), les Moraceae (6,44%) et les Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae (5,68%). Les microphanérophytes et les mesophanérophytes dominent dans tous les secteursphytogéographiques. Quant à la diversité, elle croît suivant le gradient climatique nord-sud. A l’échelle de la formation ripicole, les lits des cours d’eau sont les moins diversifiés et les berges les plus diversifiées. Legradient climatique et le gradient microtopograhique sont ainsi les principaux facteurs déterminant la distribution des espèces des formations ripicoles. Somme toute, les formations ripicoles méritent plusd’attention vue leur importante richesse floristique

Prise en charge post exposition des victimes d’agression par un animal à Ouagadougou

Le nombre de victimes d’agression par un animal ne cessent de croître au Burkina Faso. Chaque année plus de 5 000 cas  d’agressions par un animal sont notifiés dans le pays par les centres nationaux de traitement anti rabiques (CNTAR) du pays. L’étude se propose de décrire la prise en charge post agression des victimes d’agression par un animal de la commune de  Ouagadougou. Il s’est agi d’une étude rétrospective descriptive des victimes d’agression par animal, reçues au CNTAR de Ouagadougou, entre le 1er janvier et le 31 décembre 2009. Les données ont été collectées à partir du registre de consultation des victimes. Les données ont été analysées avec Epi-info 2000 version 3.5.3. La plupart des victimes d’agression provenaient de la commune de Ouagadougou (98,5 %) et l’âge médian était de 15 ans à prédominance masculine. L’animal agresseur était un chien domestique non immunisé contre la rage. Les victimes dans 25,48 % ont bénéficié d’une prophylaxie vaccinale anti rabique ; 30,70 % étaient agressées par un chien errant ou enragé avec une prophylaxie antirabique incomplète dans 22,54 % des cas. La rage a une issue toujours fatale ; le seul traitement reste la prévention primaire et surtout secondaire qui doivent être  renforcées.Mots-cles : Morsure, chien, rage, prévention, Ouagadougou.The number of victims of aggression by an animal are growing in Burkina. Each year more than 5000 cases of attacks by animals are notified by the anti rabies  treatment centers in the country. The study is to describe the post aggression management of victims of the town of Ouagadougou. It is a retrospective descriptive study of attack victims by animal received at the anti-rabies national processing center in Ouagadougou between 01st January and 31st December 2009. Data were collected from the  victims consultation register. The data analysis were performed with Epi-Info version 2000 3.5.3. Most victims of aggression came from  Ouagadougou city (98.5%). The median age was 15 years predominantly male (60%); 95% of the animal were  domestic dog and unvaccinated against rabies. The most common form of aggression was the bite (99%). After exposure, 25.48 % of the victims have received anti rabies vaccine prophylaxis, of which 30.70 % were attacked by a rabid stray dog, whose rabies prophylaxis was incomplete in 22.54 % of cases. Rabies having always fatal issue, the only treatment is primary   prevention, specially secondary prevention which should be strengthened.Keywords: bite, dog, rabies, prevention, Ouagadougou

Harmonisation of the soil map of Africa at the continental scale

In the context of major global environmental challenges such as food security, climate change, fresh water scarcity and biodiversity loss, the protection and the sustainable management of soil resources in Africa are of paramount importance. To raise the awareness of the general public, stakeholders, policy makers and the science community to the importance of soil in Africa, the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission has produced the Soil Atlas of Africa. To that end, a new harmonised soil map at the continental scale has been produced. The steps of the construction of the new area-class map are presented, the basic information being derived from the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD). We show how the original data were updated and modified according to the World Reference Base for Soil Resources classification system. The corrections concerned boundary issues, areas with no information, soil patterns, river and drainage networks, and dynamic features such as sand dunes, water bodies and coastlines. In comparison to the initial map derived from HWSD, the new map represents a correction of 13% of the soil data for the continent. The map is available for downloading

Soil Atlas of Africa

What is soil? Where does soil come from? What is special about soil in Africa? What does soil provide to society and the environment? How do our activities affect soil? The first ever Soil Atlas of Africa uses striking maps, informative texts and stunning photographs to answer and explain these and other questions. Leading soil scientists from Europe and Africa have collaborated to produce this unique document. Using state of the art computer mapping techniques, the Soil Atlas of Africa shows the changing nature of soil across the continent. The Soil Atlas of Africa explains the origin and functions of soil, describes the different soil types that can be found in Africa and their relevance to both local and global issues. The atlas also discusses the principal threats to soil and the steps being taken to protect soil resources. The Soil Atlas of Africa is more than just a normal atlas. Rather, this volume presents an interpretation of an often neglected natural resource that surrounds and affects us all. The Soil Atlas of Africa is an essential reference to a non-renewable resource that is fundamental for life on this plane