IMPACT OF CLIMATE AND SOIL-CONDITIONS ON CONCEPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN THE SENEGAL RIVER BASIN

As a result of climatological hazards in the 1970s much of the traditi onal rainfed cropping in the Sahel has been abandoned or shifted to ir rigation schemes. In this paper attention is focused on the factors th at affect selection and development of such irrigation parameters in t he Senegal River valley, and on the impact they have on optimizing cro pping patterns and water use. The impact of natural resources and loca l socio-economic conditions on project conception and field lay-out is illustrated, and subsequent management solutions for overcoming some site-specific soil and climatic problems are discussed.