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Fertility characterization of soils at six research sites in NW Cameroon
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Date
1995-01Author
Yamoah, C.F.
Ngueguim, M.
Ngong, C.
Osiname, O.A.
Tambi, E.
Type
Review Status
Peer ReviewTarget Audience
Scientists
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Show full item recordAbstract/Description
Fertility capability of surface (0–20 cm) soils was evaluated at six sites in the North-West Cameroon highlands. Two main soil groups, designated as Classes A and B, were identified based on elevation. The Class A soils from low elevations (600–1178 m) had higher Ca, Mg, K, pH, sorbed less P and were lower in organic carbon and sesquioxides than the highland (> 1200 m) soils. Soil acidity (Al saturation > 30%) and high P sorption appeared to be the most limiting factors to crop production especially on the Class B soils where the Standard P Requirement exceeded 500 mg kg−1. Phosphorus sorption data were best described by the Freundlich equation. Amorphous aluminium was the most important determinant of solution P concentration (r = 0.85,p < 0.001) followed by soil organic carbon, (r = 0.80,p < 0.001) at high P rates. Nitrogen deficiency symptoms of maize were pronounced on the Class B soils. Consequently, crop growth and yield were lower on Class B than on Class A soils despite the high organic carbon in B. We hypothesize that the supply of high quality organic material (high in N and low in lignin and polyphenols) at site B through agroforestry and related cropping systems, would improve the fertility of the soil and crop yield.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749520
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/8212Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749520