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Assessing the Impacts of Mulching on Vegetable Production Under Drip Irrigation in Burkina Faso

Author

Listed:
  • Blessing Masasi

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Niroj Aryal

    (Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Design, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Vinsoun Millogo

    (Agriculture Innovation Lab, Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium, Institute of Rural Development, Nazi Boni University, Bobo-Dioulasso 01 BP 1091, Burkina Faso)

  • Jonathan Masasi

    (Department of Agribusiness, Applied Economics and Agriscience Education, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Ajit Srivastava

    (Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • Prasanta K. Kalita

    (Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61801, USA)

Abstract

Burkina Faso faces chronic food insecurity because of adverse agroclimatic conditions and significant soil degradation. Mulching, the practice of applying organic or synthetic materials to the soil surface, offers a promising avenue for enhancing agricultural production in this challenging agroecological setting. This study utilized the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework (SIAF) to evaluate the ecological, economic, and social impacts of mulching on vegetable production in Burkina Faso. Experimental and survey data collected from Sonsongona village in Bobo-Dioulasso were used to compare the production of mulched and non-mulched vegetables (tomato, cabbage, and onion) across the five SIAF domains. A calibrated AquaCrop crop model was also applied with 30-year historical weather data to simulate mulched and non-mulched cabbages for the study site. Our results reveal that mulching conserves soil moisture, suppresses weed growth, and enhances soil fertility, contributing to enhanced vegetable production and long-term sustainability. Economically, adopting mulching positively influences vegetable yields, reduces labor requirements, and increases income for smallholder farmers. These mulching benefits lead to community empowerment, particularly among women farmers. Our findings highlight the multifaceted benefits of mulching, suggesting that it holds promise for increasing agricultural productivity and improving economic stability, ecological sustainability, and social well-being in Burkina Faso. These insights contribute to developing context-specific strategies for sustainable intensification, with applicability across similar agroecological contexts in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Suggested Citation

  • Blessing Masasi & Niroj Aryal & Vinsoun Millogo & Jonathan Masasi & Ajit Srivastava & Prasanta K. Kalita, 2025. "Assessing the Impacts of Mulching on Vegetable Production Under Drip Irrigation in Burkina Faso," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:3:p:916-:d:1574430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wolka, Kebede & Mulder, Jan & Biazin, Birhanu, 2018. "Effects of soil and water conservation techniques on crop yield, runoff and soil loss in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 67-79.
    3. Wellens, Joost & Raes, Dirk & Traore, Farid & Denis, Antoine & Djaby, Bakary & Tychon, Bernard, 2013. "Performance assessment of the FAO AquaCrop model for irrigated cabbage on farmer plots in a semi-arid environment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 40-47.
    4. Jonas Wanvoeke & Jean-Philippe Venot & Margreet Zwarteveen & Charlotte de Fraiture, 2015. "Performing the success of an innovation: the case of smallholder drip irrigation in Burkina Faso," Water International, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 432-445, May.
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