AbstractThis paper reports on research in the Kongoussi Region of Burkina Faso, on permeable infiltration dams, which sought to establish their agricultural and hydrological impact, and to develop criteria for their most effective design. From these studies it appears that, depending on rainfall characteristics, the sorghum grain yields upstream of these dams were 0‐7 t ha−1to 1‐7 t ha−1higher than those obtained in valley bottom plots not benefitting from such structures. The difference in yield was most marked in relatively dry years. The hydrological impact appeared to be limited, and the impact on groundwater negligible. As for the design criteria, it appeared that the existing methods of Rodier‐Auvray and Rodier‐Ribstein for estimating runoff floods with a recurrence interval of ten years, are applicable to small catchment areas. Dimensions of a dam can thus be calculated. Other design criteria have been determined in a more qualitative manner and are als
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