Author(s)

Moussa Oumarou Abdoulaye^1*, Issoufou Hassane Bil-Assanou³, Soulé Moussa², Mainassara Zaman-Allah²

¹Laboratory Ecology and Management of Sahelo-Saharan Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Techniques, André Salifou University, Zinder, Niger.
²Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Maradi, Niger.
³Department of Science and Technology of Plant Production, Faculty of Agronomy and Environmental Sciences, Dan Dicko Dankoulodo University of Maradi, Maradi, Niger.

Cenchrus biflorus called Karangiya in the Hausa language is an annual pastoral grass which is a valuable herbaceous fodder in dry land region in the context of climate change. However, little is known about the plant water use under the effects of cut in West Africa Sahel like Niger where the plant is a multipurpose grass species. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of grazing (simulated by shoot cuts) on biomass production. Cenchrus biflorus Roxb was grown on field plots and in pots and subjected to shoot cuts at different levels (3 cm and 5 cm from soil surface). The effect of shoot cuts on drought tolerance was evaluated by assessing the response of transpiration to the diurnal variation of vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Results showed that the biomass production varied in response to shoot cuts depending on the culture system, and the level or frequency of cuts. The mean biomass production increased significantly especially in field plots for 5 cm cuts compared to those at 3 cm and the control treatment. In addition, transpiration was highly increased in response to the VPD increase. Shoot cuts significantly reduced transpiration, whatever the level, largely because they reduced leaf surface. We concluded that moderate grazing (cuts to 5cm) can improve biomass production and allow better adaptation to water deficit as they significantly reduced water loss through transpiration. The study recommends the cropping of the Cenchrus biflorus as climate solution as it performs better under water deficit for improving grazing resilience in Niger.

Cenchrus biflorus, Biomass, Vapor Pressure Deficit, Cutting, Grazing

Abdoulaye, M. , Bil-Assanou, I. , Moussa, S. and Zaman-Allah, M. (2024) Clipping Effect on Growth and Plant Water Use Response to Diurnal Variation of Vapor Pressure Deficit in Cenchrus biflorus Roxb. Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 13, 183-191. doi: 10.4236/jacen.2024.132012.