The West African Sahel is the transition zone between the Saharadesert in the north of Africa and the more humid Sudanian zones in the south. Although diverse in many ways, the Sahelian countries have the common problem of a fragile agricultural sector. This predicament is mainly caused by low inherent soil fertility, limited and unpredictable rainfall, frequent droughts, and wind erosion that accelerates soil degradation and desertification, compounded by To assure food production in the future, means rapidly growing populations. of declining soil fertility and increasing must be found to offset the trends soil degradation through wind erosion. This is a challenge for agricultural research. Since 1985, the Special Research Program 308 'Adapted Farming in West Africa' at the UniversityofHohenheimin collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Niger, has pursued the developmentof agricultural innovations for smallholder farmers in one of the most ecologically fragile regions of the world. The prevention of soil degradation, the restoration and maintenance of soil fertility, and the increase of land and labor productivity are key objectives of this multidisci plinary research program. From the beginning, a major focus of research has been wind erosion.

InhaltsangabePreface. Part 1: Introduction. 1.1 Climate of Niger; M.V.K. Sivakumar, K. Michels. 1.2. Soils of Western Niger; K.E. Bleich, R. Hammer. 1.3. Farming Systems in Niger; J. Baidu-Forson, T.O. Williams. Part 2: Extent and Implications of Wind Erosion and Dust Transport. 2.1. Origin, Deposition, and Composition of Dust, and Consequences for Soil and Site Properties with Special Reference to the Semi-Arid Regions of West Africa; K. Stahr, L. Herrmann. 2.2. Wind Erosion and Wind Erosion Effects on the Growth and Development of Pearl Millet; L. Eltrop, et al. Part 3: Control Measures for Wind Erosion. 3.1. Effects of Natural Savannah Windbreaks and Soil Ridging on Wind Erosion and Growth of Cowpea and Millet; B. Buerkert, et al. 3.2. Effects of Planted Windbreaks on Wind Erosion and Millet Growth, and Biomass Production of the Windbreaks; L. Eltrop, et al. 3.3. Anti-Erosive, Soil Physical, and Nutritional Effects of Crop Residues; A. Buerkert, et al. 3.4. Effects of Different Rates of Crop Residue Application on Wind Erosion, Soil Properties, and Millet Growth; L. Eltrop, et al. Part 4: Socio-Economic Evaluation of Wind Erosion and Control Measures. 4.1. Financial Analysis of Seven Planted Windbreaks; J.P.A. Lamers, M. von Oppen. 4.2. An Economic Evaluation of the Use of Millet Crop Residues from a Farming Systems Perspective; M. Bruentrup, et al. 4.3. Farmers' Perceptions about Wind Erosion and its Control; P. Feil, J.P.A. Lamers. Part 5: Summary and Outlook. M. von Oppen, J.P.A. Lamers. Appendix. List of abbreviations. List of contributors.