Remote Sensing and Field Data Analysis to Evaluate the Impact of Stone Bunds on Rainfed Agriculture in West Africa

Meron Lakew Tefera, Hassan Awada (), Mario Pirastru, James Mantent Kombiok, Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah, Ramson Adombilla, Peter Anabire Asungre, George Mahama, Alberto Carletti and Giovanna Seddaiu
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Meron Lakew Tefera: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Hassan Awada: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Mario Pirastru: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy
James Mantent Kombiok: Kundok Development Consult (KDC), No 1 Target Avenue, Vittin Residential Area, Tamale P.O. Box TL 7022, Ghana
Joseph Adjebeng-Danquah: CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala (SARI), Tamale P.O. Box 52, Ghana
Ramson Adombilla: CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala (SARI), Tamale P.O. Box 52, Ghana
Peter Anabire Asungre: CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala (SARI), Tamale P.O. Box 52, Ghana
George Mahama: CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala (SARI), Tamale P.O. Box 52, Ghana
Alberto Carletti: Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123 Cagliari, Italy
Giovanna Seddaiu: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39, 07100 Sassari, Italy

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: This study evaluates the effectiveness of stone bunds in enhancing soil moisture, vegetation health, and crop yields in Ghana’s semi-arid Upper East Region, an important area for agricultural productivity in West Africa. In this region, agricultural practices are heavily impacted by erratic rainfall and poor soil moisture retention, threatening food security. Despite the known benefits of traditional soil conservation practices like stone bunds, their effectiveness in this context has not been fully quantified. Field and remote sensing data were used to evaluate the influence of stone bunds on soil moisture dynamics, vegetation growth, and crop yield. Experimental plots with and without stone bunds were monitored for climate, soil water infiltration, and soil moisture and analyzed using the NDVI from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery over two growing seasons under sorghum production (2022–2023). The results indicated that stone bunds enhanced soil moisture retention and increased infiltration rates. The NDVI analysis consistently revealed higher vegetation health and growth in the plots with stone bunds, particularly during critical growth periods. The intermediate results of the conducted experiment indicated that stone bunds increased sorghum yields by over 35% compared to the control plots. The substantial agronomic benefits of stone bunds as a soil and water conservation strategy were evident, improving soil water infiltration, water retention, vegetation health, and crop yields. The findings support the broader adoption of stone bunds in semi-arid regions to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience against climate variability. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term impacts and the integration of stone bunds with other sustainable farming practices to optimize rainfed agricultural outcomes.

Keywords: stone bunds; remote sensing; water harvesting; soil moisture; semi-arid regions; NDVI dynamics; soil and water conservation; crop yield improvement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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