The Mossi indigenous soil classification in Burkina Faso

Basga E. Dialla

A growing number of field studies has focussed on the importance and usefulness of indigenous soil taxonomies as they relate to agricultural production. Drawing upon a dissertation on indigenous soil taxonomies and conservation, this article describes the Mossi indigenous soil classification system. Different soil types identified by local farmers are based on soil characteristics such as texture, colour, consistency, geographical location, drainage and fertility. Four major classes of soil related to the suitability of specific crop production are also distinguished.

Soil classification has always been an area of interest for soil scientists. Evidence of such interest goes all the way back to early Chinese writings (Harpstead et al., 1988). More recently a great deal of research has focussed on the importance and usefulness of soil taxonomies as they relate to agricultural production (McMillan, 1980; Dvorak, 1988; Osunade, 1988; Kerven and Sikana, 1988; Dolva et al., 1988; Behrens, 1989; Tabor, 1990).

While inquiry on indigenous soil taxonomies is expanding, it is noticeable that a limited number of field studies has been conducted in the West African countries (Carney, 1991). Evidence indicates however that the African farmer has an extensive knowledge of his/her soil. Local soil taxonomy is based on soil characteristics as they relate to specific crops and, traditionally, provides the insight and ecological knowledge required for making good use of available agricultural resources (Richards, 1985).

This article explores the Mossi**1 indigenous soil classification system in Burkina Faso. It draws upon fieldwork**2 on indigenous soil taxonomies conducted during April and May 1991 in Yatenga Province.

Small scale farmers from two selected villages (Ranawa and Aorema) composed the target population. A total of 120 male household heads were interviewed. They were asked to:

• name the different types of soil on their cultivated land;
• indicate the characteristics associated with each type of soil; and
• indicate specific crops that grow well on each type of soil.

Comparing the two villages, it appears that zþ-kotþka (a clay soil with stagnant water) and zþ-bugri (very soft soil) were not mentioned by farmers in the village of Ranawa. On the other hand, rasempuiiga (gravelly soil), zþ-peele (white soil), bþs sabille (black sandy soil) and zþ-naare (wet loamy soil) were not mentioned by farmers in the village of Aorema. This variation was due to a difference in geographical location. Ranawa and Aorema are located respectively in the southeast and northeast of Yatenga Province.

From the results it can be seen that the Mossi farmers' indigenous soil classification system is based on various soil characteristics such as texture, colour, consistency, geographical location, drainage or permeability and fertility or vegetal cover. In this respect the Mossi farmers' indigenous soil classification system is comparable with indigenous soil taxonomies elsewhere reported in the literature (Acres, 1984; Osunade, 1988; Kerven and Sikana, 1988).

The Mossi farmers also classify soils in terms of cropping potential, that is, the usefulness of soil or its suitability for a specific crop production. In this respect it can be noted that the Mossi farmers' indigenous soil classification system is based on four major types or classes of soil from which different types of soil are derived (see table).

Table 1: Four major classes of soil.

Major classes	Zþ-kugri(stony soil)	Bþisri(sandy soil)	Bolle(clay soil)	Bþoogo(loamy soil)
Derived soils	Zþka(lateritic soil)	Bþs-miuugu(red sandy soil)	Dagre(hard clay soil)	Zþ- bugri(very soft soil)
	Rasempuiiga(gravelly soil)	Bþs-sabille(black sandy soil)	Zþ-sabille(black soil)	Zþ-naare(wet loamy clay soil)
	Tþnga(mountainous soil)	Zþ- peele(white soil)	Zþ-kotþka(a clay soil in a low land where water stagnates)	Kþongo(black soil with a dense growth of bushes as vegetal cover.
	Zþ-miuugu(red soil)

Zþ-kugri (stony soil) is good for millet, bþisri (sandy soil) is good for peanuts; however zþ-peele (white soil) is a very poor soil on flat land on which no crop can be grown. Bolle (clay soil) and bþoogo (loamy soil) are good for both the red and white sorghum. Such a pragmatic soil classification allows Mossi farmers to make an appropriate use of their land, by associating specific crops with specific soil types on which these crops grow particularly well.

The indigenous soil taxonomy is not only useful to the farmer but also could serve as a guiding complementary tool to scientifically based systems. However, many soil surveys have ignored the indigenous soil classification (Tabor, 1990). But evidence indicates that the soil scientist may gain time and insights if he/she knows the local indigenous soil classification system. For instance, based on investigations in Tabora region (Tanzania), Acres (1984) indicates that the results of systematic soil survey can be related to the soil nomenclature used by local farmers and their assessment of soil suitability for cultivation. In addition, the use of local names helps to alleviate the language barriers between administrators, planners, soil specialists, agriculturalists and farmers.

Dr. B.E. Dialla
BURCIK
B.P. 5154
Ouagadougou 02
Burkina Faso
Tel: +226-307664/308608
Fax: +226-312209

References
Acres, B.D. (1984) 'Local farmers experience of soils combined with reconnaissance soil survey for land use planning: an example from Tanzania', Soil Survey and Land Use 3:77-85.

Behrens, C.A. (1989) 'The scientific basis for Shipibo soil classification and land use: Changes in soil plant associations with cash cropping', American Anthropologist 91(1):83-100.

Carney, J. (1991) 'Indigenous soil and water management in Senegambian rice farming systems', Agricultural and Human Values 8(1/2):37-48.

Dolva, H., B.M. Mwake, R. Renna and C.K. Simute (1988) Indigenous soil classification in the Northern Province of Zambia. Preliminary report. Kasama, Northern Province, Zambia: Adaptive Research Planning Team.

Dvorak, K.A. (1988) Indigenous soil classification in Semi-Arid Tropical India. Progress Report No. 84. India: ICRISAT.

Harpstead, M.I., F.D. Hole and W.P. Bennett. (1988) Soil science simplified. 2nd edition. Ames: Iowa State University Press.

Kerven, C. and P. Sikana. (1988) Case studies of indigenous soil and land classification in Northern Province. Preliminary Report. Kasama, Northern Province, Zambia: Adaptive Research Planning Team.

McMillan, D. (1980) 'Land tenure and resettlement in Upper Volta.' Paper presented at the workshop on Sahelian Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University.

Osunade, A.M.A. (1988) 'Soil suitability classification by small farmers', The Professional Geographer 40:195-201.

Richards, P. (1985) Indigenous agricultural revolution: ecology and food production in West Africa. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.

Tabor, J. (1990) 'Ethnopedology: using indigenous knowledge to classify soils', Arids Lands Newsletter 30:28-29.

Endnotes
**1 The Mossi form the major ethnic group in Burkina Faso. They make up about two-thirds of the total population of nine million people.

**2 Fieldwork for dissertation. B.E. Dialla (1992) The adaption of soil conservation practices in Burkina Faso: The role of indigenous knowledge, social structure and institutional support. Ames: Iowa State University.