Characterization of Soil Microbial Communities in Shrub/Millet Systems of the Sahel with EL-Fame Analysis.

Desertification and soil erosion are significant risks for the small-scale, rain fed farms across the Sahel. Piliostigma reticulatum and Guiera senegalensis are two woody shrubs native to the Sahel with the potential to reduce the rate of soil degradation,  improve crop production, and consequently improve food security in this high risk area. The objective of this study was to use Ester Linked Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (EL-FAME) extraction method and biomarkers to characterize the soil microbial community within and outside of the influence of the shrubs in a millet intercropped system. Soil samples from shrub systems were collected from 6 sites  across a  North-South transect to represent the rainfall gradient. Gram positive bio markers 15:0 ISO, 15:0 ANTEISO, 16:0 ISO, 17:0 ANTEISO, as well as Fungal 18:2 w6,9c showed decreases with distance from the shrub rhizosphere.