A tree growing across Senegal’s dry agroforestry landscapes may help move water deeper into the soil. Scientists studied ‘Faidherbia albida’ to understand how its roots influence soil water movement and groundwater recharge in an arid environment. The study combined several years of soil moisture and sap-flow measurements with hydrological modelling to examine what happens to water below the ground. The study published in the Journal of Hydrology notes that the tree’s roots can locally alter soil hydraulic behaviour, helping water move towards deeper layers. Researchers estimated that sustained groundwater recharge accounted for about 26% of annual precipitation.
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