In Cameroon, cocoa trees are mostly grown in forests and without fertilization. Our aim was to learn more about the temporal dynamics of soils in cocoa agroforests by comparing young (1-4 years old) and old (over 25 years old) cocoa agroforests. Short fallow and secondary forest were used as treeless and forest references. The numbers and diversities of soil vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi on 60 cocoa producing farms in the Central province of Cameroon were assessed based on the classical morphotyping of spore morphology. We also observed the soil organic matter, nitrogen and major soil nutrients. VAM spore density was significantly lower in the young cocoa agroforests (16 spores g-1 dry soil) than in the old cocoa agroforests (36 spores g-1 dry soil). Levels in the nearby secondary forest (46 spores g-1 dry soil) were not significantly different from old cocoa. The spore density was significantly highest in the short fallow (98 spores g-1 dry soil). The Shannon- Weaver index also showed significantly lower biodiversity in young cocoa (0.39) than in old cocoa agroforests (0.48), secondary forest (0.49) and short fallow (0.47). These observations were supported by significant differences in the C:N ratio, Ca, Mg, and cation exchange capacity between young and old cocoa agroforests. We concluded that unfertilized cocoa agroforests could be sustainable, despite a decrease in some soil characteristics at a young stage, due to traditional land-conversion practices based on selective clearing and burning of secondary forest. (Résumé d'auteur
Aims: Multiple rejections of Cameroonian cocoa at the level of the international market proved that commercial cocoa produced in this country still has an unstable quality. In view to contribute to the improvement of the quality of this product, an investigation was made on the post-harvest treatments. Methodology: An inquiry form on the techniques of post-harvest treatments was effectuated in two cocoa production zones, notably Biwong Bulu and Mvangang subdivisions in the southern region of Cameroon. The fermented and dried beans were collected from farmers and their physicochemical characteristics were evaluated for their quality. Results: The results obtained show that the producers, made up on an average of 90% men, of which 38.3%, were elderly (> 50 years old) and were not affiliated to a cooperative, thus lacking knowledge of the quality criteria of commercial cocoa; as a consequence, the post-harvest cocoa processing method is not well respected. Only 41.8% of the producers respected the order of the different unit operations of post-harvest treatment. There were four types of fermentation mode (box, banana leaves, tarpaulin and plastic bags) and three types of drying mode (hurdle, tarpaulin and soil). The different treatment modes significantly influenced the quality of the cocoa beans and thus, the morphological and physicochemical properties of the different samples. Large cocoa beans are obtained through fermentation in cascading crates (V = 1030 ± 50.90 mm3) and drying on raised trays (V = 1310 ± 77.36 mm3), which is the material that allowed to quickly reach a moisture content conform (6.82 ± 0.91%) to cocoa of commercial quality. Conclusion: The system of post-harvest treatment in the southern region of Cameroon was not respected as recommended. Sensitization and training farmers are necessary for the success of cocoa production in this region, particularly for these two subdivisions.
Cocoa is an important crop in Cameroon, where it is cultivated in different areas, including marginal areas, characterized by a rather low level of annual rainfall and marked dry seasons. In order to release cocoa varieties with a good level of adaptation to these marginal conditions, nine full-sib progenies, already released to farmers in other producing areas of the country, were assessed on twelve on farm cocoa plots, set up in 2006, in Mbam et Inoubou county, which is a forest–savannah transition zone. The traits assessed were mortality rate, yield and yield stability. Mortality rate and yield vary widely among trial plots and among progenies. Four out of the nine assessed progenies present a yield level significantly higher than the five others. The lowest level of yield stability (estimated by the contribution to total ecovalence) was observed in both the highest and the lowest yielding progenies. Recommendation for the large-scale release of these progenies to farmers of the county, and to other cocoa producing forest–savannah transition areas, are made, based on the results obtained from this study.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.