APPLICATION OF SOIL MOISTURE DATA FOR THE EVALUATION OF CURRENT AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT IN THE DISTRICTDES MONTAGNES, WESTERN COTE DIVOIRE

This study analyzes the temporal and spatial variability of soil moisture to assess agricultural drought in the District des Montagnes, western Cote dIvoire, over the period 1981 2020. The Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSWI) was applied at a six-month cumulative scale (SSWI-6). Trend (Sens slope) and change-point (Pettitt test) analyses were conducted on the SSWI-6 series. Results revealed alternating dry and wet periods across the study area, with slightly negative trends indicating a gradual shift toward agricultural drought, particularly after 1992. The decade 1981 1990 was the wettest, while severe droughts emerged from 2000 and became widespread in the 2010s, except in the Tai zone. The most frequent drought duration exceeded five months, with prolonged events concentrated in Biankouma. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the district has been affected by agricultural drought, despite a slight recovery in soil moisture since 2011 2020.