VTechWorks staff will be away for the Thanksgiving holiday beginning at noon on Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29. We will resume normal operations on Monday, December 2. Thank you for your patience.

Browsing by Author "Badini, Oumar"

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
  • Thumbnail Image
    Agro-climatic assessment (description and analysis) of Madiama Commune in Mopti region, Mali (West Africa)
    Badini, Oumar (Blacksburg, VA: Office of International Research and Development, Virginia Tech, 2001)
    To understand and characterize the agro-climatic conditions in Madiama, first, the physiogeography of the area as well as the general climatic patterns of the Sahel region influencing the local climate of Madiama are introduced. Then, local rainfall amounts and variability are described and assessed through the analysis of long-term (30 years at least) annual, monthly, seasonal and decadal (every ten-day) totals. Through the probability analysis of the rainfall carried out on a decadal basis, the seasonality of rainfall and its reliability are described. Also, temperature, potential evapotranspiration, and length of growing season have been analyzed. Finally, the application of this agro-climatic analysis to crop suitability analysis as well as crop improvement and planning useful to Madiama and the region are introduced.
  • Analysis of productivity and soil carbon in response to time-controlled rotational grazing in the West African Sahel region
    Badini, Oumar; Stöckle, C. O.; Jones, J. W.; Nelson, R.; Keita, Moussa (2005)
    Preliminary data from Mali indicate that soil carbon levels are higher under pastures than croplands. Rotational grazing allowing biomass growth during periods (days or weeks) with no livestock grazing could result in more root and aboveground mass residues added to the soil. It is therefore hypothesized that rotational grazing will increase both soil carbon and pasture biomass production. A rotational grazing area (150 ga) was established in Torokoro, Mali (West Africa) to test this hypothesis. Because it could take many years to experimentally evaluate whether soil carbon levels are indeed increasing, a simulation-based sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate potential changes in production and soil carbon and to assess critical factors that might affect the performance of this management practice. A cropping systems model, CropSyst, was used to conduct this analysis. For this purpose, an improve soil carbon and a new rotational grazing submodel were incorporated in the model.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Analyzing changes in productivity and carrying capacity under planned grazing in Madiama Commune, Mali (West Africa)
    Badini, Oumar; Stöckle, C. O.; Jones, J.; Bostick, M.; Kodio, Amadou; Keita, Moussa (2004)
    This presentation addresses the problems of overgrazing and degradation of pasture land. Policies that can increase pasture productivity and improve the carrying capacity and soil quality of pastures are assessed using CropSyst simulation modeling. Optimal grazing intensity and intervals (rotational grazing) are evaluated and discussed, based on model analysis from the Madiama commune in Mali (West Africa).
  • Application of rainfall analysis, biophysical modeling and GIS to agroclimatic decision support in Madiama Commune, Mali (West Africa)
    Badini, Oumar; Dioni, L. (2001)
    An analysis and understanding of the intimate relationships between the weather, soils and agricultural production systems, and especially the complexities associated with the variability and distribution of rainfall and soil type are essential elements in improving crop production and agricultural planning decision making. In the present paper, knowledge from the analysis of historical rainfall records and predictive information based on the "response farming" approach have been combined with GIS and biophysical simulation modeling of soil water balance and crop production functions to assess the agroclimatic performances of a 90-day millet cultivars in Madiama, Mali. For each of two groups of rainfall onset date (early and late), the crop water stress, crop yields as well as overall stress indices in reference to yield potential permitted by different soils under low and optimum nitrogen input levels have been simulated, analyzed and mapped to illustrate how this approach could work for advisors and farmers in the study region. From the analysis of the rainfall records good relationships are found between rain onset dates and seasonal rain amounts and duration. Also, the Cropping System Simulation Model (CropSyst) used in combination with the weather analysis is found to be a useful tool in aiding determine soil suitability of crops, screen technologies and build recommendations packages for a response farming type approach.
  • Biophysical assessment of alternative soil fertility technologies through modeling
    Traoré, Boureima; Badini, Oumar; Touré, S. (Wallingford, Oxon; Cambridge, Mass.: CABI Publishing, 2005)
    In chapter 11, Badini et al. demonstrate the use of a combination of results of data collected from three years of on-farm field trials and long term simulation with CropSyst Modeling to evaluate crop rotations, and organic and inorganic fertilizer practices for yield efficiency, stability and soil sustainability over a simulated 30-year period. Organic fertilization produced the best results in the analysis and the chapter concludes by recommending increased efforts in the development of strategies to produce and apply more manure and other organic fertilizers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Caracterisation des sols de la commune de Madiama
    Badini, Oumar; Doumbia, O. (2000)
    L'étude de caractérisation des sites de recherche s'inscrit dans le cadre des activités du projet collaboratif SANREM (Sustainable and Natural Resource Management)/IER dont les travaux sont exécutés principalement au niveau du Centre Régional de Recherche Agronomique de Mopti. L'objectif global de ce projet est la recherche de l'atténuation des conflits sociaux liés à la gestion des ressources naturelles. Le projet comporte un volet de analyse économique et un volet de modélisation des aspects biophysiques.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Combinaison de l'expérience régionale et de la gestion holistique pour la recherche d'alternatives d'amélioration de la fertilité du sol de la commune de Madiama
    Traoré, Boureima; Samake, O.; Badini, Oumar (2001)
    Holistic Management provides a framework for diagnosing causes and prescribing general cures for natural resource degradation. In Madiama, holistic management exercises have identified the Nutrient cycle as a pillar of the ecosystem modification, complementing the identification of soil fertility as a priority problem during the PLLA. Identifying effective soil fertility improving technologies adaptable to poor soil conditions where annual rainfall fluctuates between 300 to 600 mm, rainfall events are irregular, and water tables have been declining is a difficult task. Under these conditions traditional research recommendations fail a number of holistic management tests. This paper highlights recent soil fertility research conducted with farmers in Madiama during the past two years. Holistic management alternatives being tested include: (1) seed hole application of micro-doses of mineral fertilizer to increase yields with minimal cost; (2) the integration of the crop and livestock production to exchange field fodder for manure between farmers and herders; (3) The application of locally available cowpea/millet rotations and intercropping to increase nitrogen fixation, dietary diversity and increased fodder production.
  • An economic evaluation of alternative soil management technologies
    Wyeth, P.; Traoré, Boureima; Badini, Oumar; Sidi, M.; Touré, M.; Brewster, Carlyle C. (Wallingford, Oxon; Cambridge, Mass.: CABI Publishing, 2005)
    In chapter 12, Wyeth et al. pursue the issue of sustainability of technologies for enhancing soil fertility from economic and financial perspectives. This analysis takes into account the results of three years of on-farm trials and combines those findings with the output of the computer modeling analyses of Badini et al. (chapter 11). Their results suggest that corralling livestock in the fields, spreading manure and micro-dosing with chemical fertilizer are adoptable within the range of farmers' risk preferences.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Etude morpho-pedologique de la commune de Madiama
    Dioni, L.; Badini, Oumar (2004)
    L'objectif général de cette étude était: l'amélioration de la gestion durable des ressources naturelles de la commune de Madiama afin d'assurer un meilleur cadre de vie à la population. Les objectifs spécifiques sont: caractériser et déterminer les différents types de sol de la commune de Madiama; identifier les contraintes et facteurs favorables à l'utilisation agro-syvo-pastorale des terres; aider à la prise de décisions pour la planification et lutilisation des terres agricoles et pastorales de la commune de Madiama.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Etude morpho-pédologique et cartographie de la Commune de Madiama, Cercle de Djenné, Mali: Rapport provisiore
    Badini, Oumar; Dioni, L. (Blacksburg, Va.: Virginia Tech. Office of International Research and Development, 2001)
  • Landscape and soil characterization of Madiama Commune
    Badini, Oumar; Dioni, L. (Wallingford, Oxon; Cambridge, Mass.: CABI Publishing, 2005)
    In chapter 3, Badini and Dioni present a detailed description of the landscape types and soils of the Commune of Madiama. Combining knowledge gained from informal surveys, field observations, biophysical monitoring, transects, remote sensing, and pit holes, the chapter characterizes soil types and distributions, climate and hydrology, cropping patterns, land use systems and potentials. The database on these landscape types, their location, potentials and constraints is at an appropriate scale for use by village, commune and regional level planners, as well as for providing input to biophysical models to evaluate technologies (as in chapter 11).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Multi-temporal classification of land cover using Landsat7 imagery in Madiama, Mali
    Bertelsen, Michael; Heatwole, Conrad D.; Moore, Keith M.; Badini, Oumar (2001)
    Multi-temporal imagery from the Landsat7 satellite (ETM+) was classified using unsupervised and supervised techniques to develop a land use / land cover map of the Madiama Commune in Mali. The desired outcome of the imagery classification is to identify the basic land uses in the region, and to make inferences on overall land suitability and productivity as a resource for the commune. Since different land uses/land covers are best represented at different dates, radiometric information from different images is expected to improve classification in a difficult environment. Imagery from three dates (April 2000, August 2000, and October 2000) provide coverage of primary phenological periods in the region. Combining multiple dates improved the accuracy of the classification compared to single-date classifications. Additional field data is required to provide an adequate basis for classification and for evaluation of alternative techniques.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Rainfall risk and "response farming": Using rainfall analysis, simulation modeling and GIS to improve agricultural decisions in Mali
    Badini, Oumar (Watkinsville, GA: SANREM CRSP, 2002)
    In this study, analyses of historical rainfall records are combined with GIS and biophysical modeling of soil water balance and crop production to predict performance of millet cultivars in Mali. The research improves previous efforts to apply rainy season predictions to agricultural decisions in the Sahel region, by integrating soils and crops information and by using crop simulation modeling. For two data sets defined by (early or late) rainfall onset date, the simulated crop yields, average water stress, and overall stress indices relative to yield potential have been computed and mapped. Research findings indicate that probability analysis and simulation modeling can be used to minimize agro-climatic risk.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Rotational grazing for soil carbon sequestration
    SANREM CRSP (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, OIRED, Virginia Tech, 2007)
    Soil carbon sequestration has the potential to provide significant economic and environmental benefits to communities in semi-arid regions around the world. Increased levels of carbon enhance soil fertility and water retention capacity, leading to higher agricultural productivity. Communities also can obtain financial incentives through carbon trading programs. However, the realization of these benefits and incentives requires more than technical capacity. It calls for communities to organize themselves to implement land use practices at a scale broad enough to participate in such trading programs. Participating communities must demonstrate continuity and
  • A simulation-based analysis of productivity and soil carbon in response to time-controlled rotational grazing in the West African Sahel region
    Badini, Oumar; Stöckle, C. O.; Jones, J. W.; Nelson, R.; Kodio, Amadou; Keita, Moussa (Elsevier Ltd., 2007)
    In the Sahel region of West Africa, the traditional organization of the population and the grazing land avoided overexploitation of pastures. Since independence in the 1960s, grazing lands have been opened to all without specific guidance, and the vulnerability of the pastures to degradation has increased. Rotational grazing is postulated as a possible solution to provide higher pasture productivity, higher animal loads per unit land, and perhaps improved soil carbon storage. The objective of this study was to conduct a simulation-based assessment of the impact of rotational grazing management on pasture biomass production, grazing efficiency, animal grazing requirement satisfaction, and soil carbon storage in the Madiama Commune, Mali. The results showed that grazing intensity is the primary factor influencing the productivity of annual pastures and their capacity to provide for animal grazing requirements. Rotating the animals in paddocks is a positive practice for pasture protection that showed advantage as the grazing pressure increased. Increasing the size of the reserve biomass not available for grazing, which triggers the decision of taking the animals off the field, provided better pasture protection but reduced animal grazing requirements satisfaction. In terms of soil carbon storage, all management scenarios led to reduction of soil carbon at the end of the 50-year simulation periods, ranging between 4% and 5% of the initial storage. The differences in reduction as a function of grazing intensity were of no practical significance in these soils with very low organic matter content, mostly resistant to decomposition.