Water as a Constraint on Food Production in the Sahel. Influence of Rainfall211 Scenarios and Crop Densities on Production and the Water-Use Efficiency of Millet

摘要

Problems with food production consist in the Sahel. Because of the unreliable211u001eclimate, farmers are sowing widespread to reduce risks. This gives low yeilds. By 211u001emodeling, the optimum crop density is determined at 75 to 100 cm. This is 211u001eslightly closer than what is being sown now. This optimum is determined by 211u001evarying crop densities with several rainfall scenarios in the TRIGGER model. The 211u001ecrop density is spread between a maximum density (50 cm) and 150 cm. At this 211u001edensity the crop grows like individual plants. Rainfall scenarios are varied 211u001ebetween 128 mm and 1471 mm.