Author(s)

Julie Léancy Gougodo De Mon-Zoni^1,2, Arnauld Dave Bangane Konzoba³, Jane Akoth Omenda⁴, Mohammad Zaman⁵, Ephrem Kosh-Komba^1,6

¹Plant and Fungal Biodiversity Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bangui, Central African Republic.
²Central African Institute for Agricultural Research (ICRA), Bangui, Central African Republic.
³Laboratoiry of Geoscience, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.
⁴Departement of Water & Agricultural Resources Management, University of Embu, Embu, Kenya.
⁵International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria.
⁶Laboratory of Biological and Agronomical Sciences for Development, Faculty of Sciences, University of Bangui, Bangui, Central African Republic.

Soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuous cultivation with insufficient external nutrient replenishment is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). A trial using the organic and mineral fertilizer was established in the cassava cropping system of the Pissa and Damara areas to address the declining soil fertility. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of cow manure and mineral fertilizer in combination or sole application on soil physico-chemical properties and macronutrients. The experimental trial adopted a randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated four times. The treatments comprised of; T1 (Control), T2 (Peasant practice), T3 (sole NPK), and T4 (Cow manure + NPK). The data on soil physicochemical analysis was subjected to a one-way analysis of variance in SAS 9.4 and the mean was separated by Tukey’s HSD test at p < 0.005. The soil pH values ranged from 4.20 to 4.91; and 4.53 to 5.28 in Pissa and Damara respectively. According to the treatments, a low pH value is observed in T3 (4.13) in the Pissa. Combined use of cow manure and the mineral fertilizer resulted in higher Mg K and N in the Pissa region and higher soil pH in Damara. The use of sole NPK (T3) gave a higher soil carbon and CN ratio. In the Pissa region the CEC, Cu, Fe, and Zn were higher in the treatments with mineral fertilizer compared to the control. Conclusively, the use of mineral fertilizer and cow manure can be used with optimum rates to improve soil physico-chemical properties on a sustainable basis.

Cow Manure, Physicochemical, Nutrients, Agroecology Nutrient Management

Mon-Zoni, J. , Konzoba, A. , Omenda, J. , Zaman, M. and Kosh-Komba, E. (2024) Changes in Soil Physicochemical Properties under Selected Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices in Central African Republic. Open Journal of Soil Science, 14, 97-114. doi: 10.4236/ojss.2024.141006.