Palm Stalks Compost Input in the Fertility Restoration of Degraded Soils in Côte d'Ivoire

D.J.B. Ettien, K.E.G. Gnimassoun and O.F. Bouadou

Background and Objective: The Grand-Lahou area in the Ivory Coast is characterized by intensive use of land for agriculture. It is a location submitted to a high land pressure with poor soil in organic matter. The main research objective of this study was to question how to efficiently restore soil fertility of severely degraded sandy soils in the Grand-Lahou area using palm stalks compost. Materials and Methods: A small-scale composting trial was set up for the production of composts from palm stalks and poultry manure. The characterisation of the mature composts made it possible to define the agronomic potential of this material. The trials were conducted over 2 years from 2018-2019 in a randomized complete block design. Four doses of compost on the soil were tested, including: D₀ = 0, D₁ = 10, D₂ = 20 and D₃ = 40 t ha^–1. Results: At the end of this study, the application of compost to the soil gave satisfactory results by increasing the value of the pH, the total carbon, the total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, labile carbon and this increase depends on the dose of compost applied with higher values under the D₃ dose which was identified as the best one. Conclusion: Study suggested that the D₃ dose could be recommended to farmers to restore efficiently soil fertility and increase the yield of vegetables in their area conditions.

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