Assessing Soil Nutrient Status for Optimizing Cassava Cropping Systems in Southern Benin: A DRIS Model Approach
C.T.B Oussou
*
Support Laboratory for the Improvement of Soil Health, Water Quality and Environmental Protection (2A2S2E), Agricultural Research Center of Agonkanmey, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB), 01 BP 988 RP, Cotonou 01, Benin and Research Unit on Integrated Soil and Crop Management (ISCM), Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 RP, Cotonou, Benin.
F.O. Chabi
Research Unit on Integrated Soil and Crop Management (ISCM), Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 RP, Cotonou, Benin.
P.A. Kombienou
Support Laboratory for the Improvement of Soil Health, Water Quality and Environmental Protection (2A2S2E), Agricultural Research Center of Agonkanmey, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB), 01 BP 988 RP, Cotonou 01, Benin.
D.G. Dagbénonbakin
Support Laboratory for the Improvement of Soil Health, Water Quality and Environmental Protection (2A2S2E), Agricultural Research Center of Agonkanmey, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin (INRAB), 01 BP 988 RP, Cotonou 01, Benin.
L.E. Ahoton
Research Unit on Integrated Soil and Crop Management (ISCM), Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 RP, Cotonou, Benin.
A. Saïdou
Research Unit on Integrated Soil and Crop Management (ISCM), Laboratory of Soil Science, Department of Crop Sciences, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 526 RP, Cotonou, Benin.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cassava is one of the widely cultivated and consumed root cropped in Benin. Cassava is also a highly strategic crop for maintaining food security in developing countries like Benin. Cassava production is threatened by declining soil fertility, especially nutritional deficiencies. This study aims to assess nutritional status of soil under cassava cropping system in southern Benin using Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). For this purpose, 149 samples of cassava leaves were sampled from farmers' fields in 3 municipalities named Djakotomey, Klouékanmey and Zakpota. Moreover, root yield and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Zn) content in the leaves were determined for DRIS norms establishment. From DRIS, the order of nutrient deficiency was as follows : K >N > P > Zn > Ca > Mg ; K>Ca > Zn > Mg > N > P and Zn>N > Ca> K > Mg > P for the farmers’ fields in Djakotomey, Kloukanmey and Zakpota respectively. These results also showed that K, Ca and N were deficient in the soil and limit cassava yield while P and Zn was often in excess. DRIS could be an important tool for refining the nutritional needs of cassava plants in Benin Republic's cropping systems and also for setting trial for fertilizer recommendation.
Keywords: Soil evaluation, root cropping systems, nutrient deficiencies, soil fertility management, cassava nutrition