Publication Date

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geology

Advisor

Nathaniel Bogie; June Oberdorfer; Teamrat Afewerki Ghezzehei

Abstract

Effects of drought can devastate agricultural productivity in the West African Sahel. Climate complexities, such as lower-than-average rainfall and high winds, can lead to crop failure and low yields, thereby creating food security issues. Agriculture in the Sahel is primarily rainfed, and the rain is becoming increasingly unpredictable due to the changing climate. The method of intercropping groundnut (Arachis hypogea) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) with the shrub species Piliostigma reticulatum can combat the effects of climate change and restore degraded soil. Intercropping can increase water availability and crop yield when compared to crops grown in the absence of shrubs. In this study, HYDRUS-1D was used to simulate the interaction between crops and shrubs using soil water content and meteorological data collected at Nioro du Rip, Senegal, for the years 2014 and 2015. HYDRUS was used to simulate soil moisture and calculate the water balance components of the agroforestry ecosystem. The evapotranspiration in the crop + shrub treatment was 39.65 cm and 38.55 cm for 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Cumulative evapotranspiration in the 2015 crop + shrub soil treatment was 3% higher than the 2014 crop + shrub due to healthier plant development. This study helped quantify the drainage losses below the rooting zone, aiding future research to simulate soil moisture dynamics under different climatic conditions within an agroforestry ecosystem.

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