In the heart of Senegal, follow scientists as they reveal how an extraordinary tree sheds its leaves during the rainy season, creates soil fertility islands, and triples farmers’ yields. A fascinating discovery from the “Faidherbia-Flux” observatory about a tree that could transform Sahelian agriculture in the face of climate change and the threat of desertification.
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We are following a small trail guiding us through a landscape dominated by a peculiar-looking tree. Although it is mid-dry season, this tree proudly carries green leaves in a landscape resembling a sandy desert. How is that even possible?
Animals take refuge in the shade of the green Faidherbia canopy during the hottest period of the dry season. (Photo by Lilian Beck)Dr. Olivier Roupsard, the lead scientist of the “Faidherbia-Flux” collaborative observatory in Senegal, sheds some light on the secrets of this tree, guiding us through the research station. We arrive at a deep hole where the roots of this mystical tree become visible. One might think it is a drought-resistant tree, but to our surprise, it follows a different strategy: Using cameras, the research team observed root growth and discovered that this tree can locate and distribute groundwater to the surface like a hydraulic lift, even managing some salt content. In turn, crops benefit as they draw nourishment from the deep groundwater that the tree’s roots lift to the surface.
Faidherbia root system with mounted film cameras in the research station. (Photo by Lilian Beck)
The extraordinary tree characteristics enable farmers to harvest nutritious forage, such as fruits and leaves, from the tree during the dry season, a period in which farmers usually struggle to find fodder for their animals. But what makes this tree an excellent choice for agroforestry is that it does not compete with other crops for sunlight, as it sheds leaves during the rainy season. “This is a unique feature”, Olivier states. Ndeye Dabo, a Senegalese farmer, confirms with her statement: “Your most important crops should be cultivated under the canopies of Faidherbia!”
With sparkling enthusiasm, Dr. Cathy Clermont-Dauphin, a scientist at IRD, introduces us to the underground world of soil microorganisms and their collaboration with this fascinating tree, which, according to her team’s findings, can increase millet yields up to 3 times. Dr. Moussa N’Dienor, a scientist at ISRA, explains the key role of Faidherbia albida in responding to the risk of desertification, particularly in Senegal. But the fascinating benefits of Faidherbia albida do not end there. Dr. Hassna Founoune, a scientist at ISRA with a passion for soil organisms, shares their findings on reducing pathogens in crops thanks to the integration of Faidherbia albida in the field.
Watch our video to learn more about the secrets of a tree that could play a crucial role in the effort to combat desertification by its ability to create fertility islands and conserve humidity, available on YouTube (with English subtitles) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjH6j5hDMvQ
The ‘Faidherbia-Flux’ collaborative observatory. (Photo by Lilian Beck)The “Faidherbia-Flux” collaborative observatory in Senegal is a cooperative effort of CIRAD-IRD-ISRA-UCAD and several other international partners, contributing to various research projects, including the SustainSahel project. (https://lped.info/wikiObsSN/?Faidherbia-Flux)
You can find more videos on agroforestry in the Sahel on our Sustain Sahel YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@sustainsahel
Here you will find more information, research documents, and dissemination materials on agroforestry in the Sahel, produced by the Sustain Sahel project.
Author: Lilian Beck
Through videos and creative outreach materials, Lilian shares the transdisciplinary knowledge of the Sustain Sahel project on agroforestry with the wider community. Lilian has been facilitating co-creation processes in Agroecology for more than seven years, mostly in Cambodia, living there for 5years as well as collaborating with stakeholders on the African continent and in Central Asia with organizations such as CIAT, FAO, CIFOR-ICRAF, Uni Kassel, and Uni Hohenheim. She holds an MSc in Agroecology and is currently conducting her Ph.D. on agroforestry dissemination in Cambodia.
