Adaptation to the climatic changes in Africa sub-Saharan: impact of zaï and improved seeds on sorghum yield in the villages of Loaga and Sika (Bam province), Burkina Faso

Climate changes have sever threats on food security in subsistence farming systems of Burkina Faso where agricultural production is strongly base on rainfall. Soil and water conservation techniques such as zai and improved seeds of sorghum (Sorgum bicolor L.) were tested and adopted in the drier zones of the North as adaptation technologies to the climate changes. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the combination of improved sorghum variety (Sariasso 11) with zai technology on its yields performance in the context of climate changes. The trail was conducted in field conditions and 10 farmers were concerned. The different treatments were randomly distributed according to a Fisher block design with 4 treatments and 5 replicates in the villages of Loaga and Sika. Measurements were carried out on the components of sorghum yield, and soil parameters. The results showed that the treatment « zai compost + improved seeds» adapt better to the climatic changes. It allowed a better development of the sorghum and grain yield increased by 3 compared to the control. Chemical parameters of the soil were significantly improved, and the pH reached a value of approximately 6.5 in this treatment. The combination of the two techniques permits therefore to improve the resilience of the agricultural production facing the climate changes.