In spite of the general recognition that wind erosion is a major land degradation process in the Sahel, little quantitative information is available for that region on soil losses by wind erosion under different management practices. An on-farm field experiment was therefore setup in order to assess the effect of two types of residue management and ridging on soil loss and millet productivity. Both ridges and residue strips were oriented perpendicular to the most erosive winds. Mass balance calculations based on incoming and outgoing soil fluxes measured with BSNE sand traps indicated soil losses of at least 36.1 t ha -1 on bare plots over a two year period. Strip residue plots trapped at least 30.6 t soil ha -1 over the same period.
Wind erosion is a major hazard in the Sahelian zone.