Revegetation of Cleared Sites at the Soubré Hydroelectric Dam (Southwestern Côte d’Ivoire) Using the Cover Crop Arachis repens Handro

Abstract

The aim of this study was to restore the vegetation cover of land stripped during the construction of the Soubré hydroelectric dam through the use of Arachis r epens cover crops. The method used to install the cover crop was the cutting technique. The cuttings were transplanted by burying two nodes in the soil. The study was conducted on flat and upland surfaces. On each surface, three 100 m 2 (10 m × 10 m) plots of Arachis repens ground cover were established, each containing five 1 m 2 observation plots. Measurements were taken in each plot on ten identified plants. The cover crop Arachis repens on flat and upland surfaces provided soil protection and reduced erosion on the dam’s stripped sites. Analyses have shown that cover plant growth on flat surfaces is better than on upland surfaces after three months of transplanting. However, from the fourth to the thirteenth month, the growth and development of the cover plants are statistically identical on both surfaces. Ara chis repens therefore appears to be a relevant and sustainable option for revegetating degraded land and ecologically rehabilitating disturbed environments. It could be used nationwide in development projects, particularly on mining and road sites or in areas highly susceptible to erosion.