Author(s)

Deuheula Armand Ngueuleu^1*, Rosaline Fosah Muyang^1,2, Ifoue Alice Virginie Tchiaze¹, Fotsop Oscar Simplice Wamba¹, Dongmo Fabrice Fabien Dongho³, Denis Saah Tassong¹, Vaugelas Duthie Tefouet⁴, Charles Carnot Asseng¹,   Fotso^2,5, Victor Désiré Taffouo¹

¹Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Biology, Higher Teachers Training College (HTTC), University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon.
³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Biology and Plant Physiology, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Biological Sciences, Higher Teachers Training College (HTTC) University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the effect of indigenous microorganism (IMO), effective (EM) and mineral fertilizers (NPK) on the yield and nutritional value of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) in Western Cameroon (Baboutcha-Fongam). The study was conducted during two consecutive years, using a completely randomized block design of 8 treatments repeated three times in each subblock. The sub-plots were enriched with 0, 10, 20 and 40 g corresponding to the treatment of EM and IMO respectively and 3.2 g of NPK in 2019. Subsequently, the best dose that resulted in excellent yields was repeated for the rest of the experiment in 2020. The yield parameters and nutritional value of the two varieties of Arachis hypogaea used in the two consecutive years increase with the contribution of the different doses compared to the control. Overall, a significant increase (p < 0.001) in these parameters was observed with the 20 g EM, 10 g IMO and 3.2 g NPK doses compared to the other doses. However, the evolution of the yields and nutritional parameters was not significant over time regardless of the treatment for the two varieties used. The difference between pod and seed yields of A. hypogaea plants fertilized with EM 20 g (2.15 ± 0.24 and 2.01 ± 0.23 t/ha) and plants fertilized with NPK 3.2 g (2.36 ± 0.65 and 2.04 ± 0.17 t/ha) was not significant. On the other hand, there was a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) between plants fertilized with IMO 10 g (2.65 ± 0.17 and 2.24 ± 0.2 t/ha) and plants fertilized with EM 20 g and plants fertilized with NPK 3.2 g for both varieties during the two years combined. In addition to being local and therefore adapted to environmental conditions, IMOs could be a promising biological means for improving soil fertility in Cameroon.

Arachis hypogaea, Biofertilizers, Mineral Fertilizers, Yield and Nutritional Value

Ngueuleu, D. , Muyang, R. , Tchiaze, I. , Wamba, F. , Dongho, D. , Tassong, D. , Tefouet, V. , Asseng, C. , Fotso,  . and Taffouo, V. (2025) Effects of Indigenous Microorganism Fertilizers (IMO), Effective Fertilizers (EM) and Mineral Fertilizers (NPK) on the Yield and Nutritional Value of Two Varieties of Arachis hypogaea Grown Locally in West Cameroon. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 16, 216-231. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2025.162018.