@article{fdi:010055713,
  title = {{E}xperimental evidence of deep infiltration under sandy flats and gullies in the {S}ahel},
  author = {{D}escroix, {L}uc and {L}aurent, {J}. {P}. and {V}auclin, {M}. and {A}mogu, {O}kechukwu and {B}oubkraoui, {S}t{\'e}phane and {I}brahim, {B}. and {G}alle, {S}ylvie and {C}appelaere, {B}ernard and {B}ousquet, {S}. and {M}amadou, {I}. and {L}e {B}reton, {E}. and {L}ebel, {T}hierry and {Q}uantin, {G}. and {R}amier, {D}. and {B}oulain, {N}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{D}espite the strong reduction in rainfall observed after 1968, the water table of some endorheic areas in the {S}ahel has been found to be rising over the last several decades. {I}t has been previously demonstrated that this is due to land use changes which have led to a severe increase in runoff and erosion. {I}n such areas, the excess in runoff causes a strong increase in the number of ponds, their sizes and thus, their duration. {P}onds have been identified as the main zones of deep infiltration of water. {T}he aim of this study was to investigate whether other areas of the {S}ahelian region could also be defined as deep infiltration ones as well, and then, whether they were contributing to aquifer recharge. {S}oil water content was surveyed for five consecutive years (2004-2008) by implementing a set of measurement devices at different depths. {T}he hydrologic water balance was monitored at stream flow gauge stations located upstream and downstream of two small endorheic catchments. {T}he observed replacement of bush vegetation by crops and fallow areas led to the appearance of extended bare soil areas due to both aeolian and hydric erosion, triggering a strong reduction in soil infiltrability under millet fields and fallow lands as well as in the soil water holding capacity. {I}t also resulted in the formation of a great number of gullies and sand sediment deposits in the endorheic areas. {M}easurements showed that sandy deposits correspond in fact to large areas of deep infiltration: tens of thousands of cubic meters of water infiltrated catchments of less than 1 km(2). {R}unoff decreased by up to 50% in the sandy deposit areas, while infiltration (close to 1300 mm h(-1)) was observed up to depths of 10 m. {T}hese factors would raise the water table and significantly modify the surface and sub-surface components of the water cycle.},
  keywords = {{E}ndorheic area ; {S}andy soil ; {R}unoff ; {D}eep infiltration ; {N}iger},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {H}ydrology},
  volume = {424},
  numero = {},
  pages = {1--15},
  ISSN = {0022-1694},
  year = {2012},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.11.019},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010055713},
}