Soil Health of Rubber Plantations in Southern Côte D'ivoire: The Case of Cnra Anguédédou Rubber Plantations
Konan Djézou *
National Centre for Agronomic Research, CNRA/Bimbresso Research Station, Rubber Tree Programme, Agronomy-Physiology Laboratory, 01 PO Box 1536 Abidjan 01, Côte d'Ivoire.
Yao Guy Fernand
National Centre for Agronomic Research, CNRA/Bouaké Regional Office, Central Laboratory of Soils, Waters and Plants (LCSEP) 01 PO Box 633 Bouaké 01, Côte d'Ivoire.
Lekadou Tacra Thierry
National Centre for Agronomic Research, Research Station CNRA/Marc Delorme, Coconut Cultivation Laboratory, 07 PO Box 13 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Amani Abissaley Boris Armand
University of Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Agroforestry, Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, PO Box 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire.
Koffi Antoine
University of Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Agroforestry, Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, PO Box 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire.
Soro Dogniméton
University of Jean Lorougnon Guédé, UFR Agroforestry, Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, PO Box 150 Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The rubber tree, a species of Amazonian forest tree, is cultivated for its natural rubber-rich latex. Its cultivation is of economic, social, climatic and environmental importance. However, it has been criticized as a soil-destroying crop. To clear up this ambiguity, a study was launched to assess the health of soils under rubber cover in southern Côte d'Ivoire. The methodology involved selecting rubber plantations of [1 to 5 years], [6 to 10 years], [11 to 20] and [20-40 years], and two (02) 42-year-old rubber tree plantations, abandoned for 8 years, were compared to those of a forest. In these biotopes, soil samples were taken using an auger and a metal cylinder, then analyzed in the laboratory to determine soil fertility and ecological parameters. The results showed that the saturated soils of young plantations aged 6 to 10 years are poor in organic matter and cation exchange capacity, mainly calcium and magnesium. However, organic carbon stocks are high in abandoned plantations (182.38 mg/ha) and plantations over 20 years old (164.5 mg/ha). The assessed deterioration index reveals that soils in young plantations aged 6 to 10 years are degraded, with an SDI = -40%. These soils recovered as the plantations aged, with a SDI of 151% in abandoned plantations.
Keywords: Soil health, rubber plantation, southern Côte d'Ivoire, CNRA Anguédédou