Who are we?
The Agro-Shrub Alliance provides on-farm research and technical training on the Optimized Shrub System (OSS) to smallholder farming families across the West African Sahel.
The Optimized Shrub System
Involves increasing the number of native shrubs in farmers’ fields considerably, and incorporating pruned shrub residue into the soil. This results in significantly improved yields and regenerated landscapes.
How to Manage Native Shrubs for Improved Yields and Soil Health
Using Local Resources to Improve Food Security
Elegant and simple solution for the ecological and food security challenges of the Sahel using two native shrubs found in farmers’ fields from Senegal to Chad.
Guiera senegalensis
Guiera senegalensis, pictured left, is native to the northern regions of the Sahel where:
The average annual rainfall is 300mm
The average annual temperature is 3°c.
Piliostigma Reticulatum
Piliostigma Reticulatum, pictured right, is native
to the southern regions of the Sahel where:
The average annual rainfall is 750mm per year
The average annual temperature is 32°c.
Distribution of Guiera Senegalensis and
Piliostigma Reticulatum
Benefits of the Optimized Shrub System (OSS)
Bio-Irrigation
Deep tap roots lift water from the wet subsoil to the surface (hydraulic lift) where it is released to surrounding crops.
Better Soil
Shrub intercropping results in increased water holding capacity, soil organic matter and the overall soil health.
Assists Food Crops
The shrubs do not compete with crops and they help to create microbial diversity and nutrient availability.
Improved Yields
This system helps to decrease the days to crop maturity by 15 days.
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