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Land degradation is a serious problem in the soudano-sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. Many studies were undertaken in two villages, Somyaga and Ziga in the Yatenga Province. The main objectives are (i) to evaluate the dynamic of land use in three periods using aerial photographies ; (ii) to identify et characterize the potentialities and the constraints of soil using the geomorphopedologic approach ; (iii) to experiment the potential of zaï technique and compost manure improved with natural phosphorus to restore the fertility of the soil and to improve the sorghum yield. The study of the dynamic of land use showed that the ecosystem has been affected by drought conditions occurring in this area and human activities between 1952 and 1996. The vegetation surfaces were decreased particular in 1984. The poor soil called zipella appeared and extended in this period. The practices of regenerating soil fertility such as fallow field widely used in the past decrease in 1996. The characteriza tion of soil, using geomorphopedologic approach shows that the majority of soil are plinthosols and acrisols. These soils are very acids ; the rate of organic total carbon and the total nitrogen are low. The potential of the major soils is lower according to the cationic exchange capacity and exchangeable cations rates in these soils. Experiment with zaï technique and compost manure improved with natural phosphorus called burkina phosphate (BP) during three years indicates that zaï techniques was interesting to improve the soil fertility parameters such as pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and the cationic exchange capacity and exchangeable bases. The zaï technique were also interesting, to improve the sorghum yield in this area. The ANOVA analysis indicates significant differences between compost treatments and the control and untreated. Yield obtained from zipelle treated can reach about 1283 kg. ha-1 at Somyaga location. In general, the increased yield varies from 50 % to 100 % according to the village in our experiment. About 40 species of herbaceous and trees have been regenerated by zaï system in a degraded land. The experiment concerning intercropping system, sorghum/cowpea using improved material shows the superiority of the intercropping system comparing to the monoculture. Sorghum yield can reach 1500 kg. ha-1 at Ziga location in good season like 2003. The cowpea yield is also interesting, about 1000 kg. ha-1 in monoculture in the same village. The study recommends the continuation of research to identify performed varieties adapted to zaï system and also investigations in soil biology, in particular, soil micro-organism biomass evaluation in zaï system.

Sorghum --- Sorghum --- Vigna unguiculata --- Vigna unguiculata --- Ferralsols --- Ferralsols --- soil fertility --- soil fertility --- Soil degradation --- Soil degradation --- Fertilizer application --- Fertilizer application --- Phosphate fertilizers --- Phosphate fertilizers --- Composts. --- Composts --- Burkina Faso --- Burkina Faso