Yé L. auteur aut IRD Lata J.C. auteur aut IRD Nacro H.B. auteur aut IRD Masse Dominique auteur aut IRD Barot Sébastien auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf born digital access The nitrogen and carbon cycles are fundamental ecosystem processes influenced by several factors including soil type and other abiotic factors, plant species, grazing and soil organisms. Herbivores profoundly influence the functioning of ecosystems and the recycling of nutrients in interaction with plants in natural ecosystems. This study focuses on the effects of livestock on carbon and nitrogen cycling in a grazed savanna in Burkina Faso. Dominant grass species (aerial and root parts) and soil samples were collected under grasses and bare soil patches in 48 plots (24 protected and 24 unprotected plots), 18 months after setting up herbivores exclosures. Soil and grass 13C and 15N were used as integrative indicators of carbon and nitrogen cycles. The results revealed no significant effect of livestock on soil total carbon and nitrogen and on soil delta13C and delta15N values. Moreover, grazing had no significant effect on grass carbon and delta13C, while it significantly increased grass total nitrogen and delta15N. Therefore, our hypothesis that grazing would increase soil 13C and 15N values and plant biomass was only verified for grass 15N. Grass delta15N results suggest that grazing improves the immediate availability of ni-trogen but could also increase nitrogen losses specialized BURKINA FASO BOBO DIOULASSO 082 098 068 074 110 103694 [7 ] 2021 1146-609X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080755 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103694 1146-609X [F B010080755] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010080755 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/intranet/publi/depot/2021-03-25/010080755.pdf Accès réservé (Intranet de l'IRD) IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2021-01-18 2025-02-24 fdi:010080755 fre