The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices can slow down the degradation of arable land and enhance agricultural productivity, particularly land in the context of climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of agroecological practices, specifically zaï and stone-rows (SR), on soil fertility and sorghum (kapelga variety) productivity in the northern Sudanian zone. The research was conducted in the village of Tanghin in a rural setting with four treatments, namely, zaï (Z), SR, the combination of stone-rows and zaï (CP + Z), and a control plot representing traditional peasant practices. Each of these treatments, selected after a survey of 30 farmers, was replicated four times. Key parameters evaluated in the 0–20-cm soil layer included particle size (at five fractions), organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable bases, and pH as well as the sorghum grain yield. The results showed that the managed plots, compared to the control, exhibited a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.5–6.8), along with an increase in organic carbon (+0.4%), CEC (+4.16 meq/100 g), and the sum of exchangeable bases (+7.608 meq/100 g). Grain sorghum yields were also increased by nearly 300% on plots managed with SR + Z and by 200% on plots with zaï (Z) and SR, compared to the farmer’s practices. While zaï and SR with organic manure had a positive effect on soil physical (soil layer) and chemical (carbon, nitrogen, and so on) fertility, it was evident that their combined effect was significantly greater. These results highlight the potential of traditional agroecological practices to mitigate the impacts of climate change on soil degradation and food production and suggest a pathway towards sustainable agriculture.

Burkina Faso; Central Plateau; organic manure; soil fertility; stone-rows; zaï