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Sustaining high crop yield and profitability on marginal soils, such as degraded ferralsols, calls for the use of adequate farming practices. In this study, we assessed for four cropping seasons the effect of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer application doses (100, 150, and 200 kg ha−1) and plant densities (100,000, 166,666, and 250,000 plants ha−1) on growth, yield, nodulation capacity, and profitability of two pea varieties (Adei and Rwanda) under degraded ferralsols in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Results showed that pea growth, yield, nodulation, and profitability were significantly affected by the DAP dose and the plant density. Application of 150 kg ha−1 of DAP improved pea yields from 730 to 1720 kg ha−1 and nodulation from 17 to 22 nodules per plant. The number of active nodules was positively correlated with total number of nodules, DAP doses, yield parameters, and plant height. High grain yield was recorded during the long rainy season (1400 kg ha−1) compared to the short one (930 kg ha−1). All DAP doses were profitable according to the agronomic efficiency (AE) and value–cost ratio (VCR) analyses. For improved and profitable pea production on degraded South-Kivu ferralsols, applying 150 kg ha−1 of DAP combined with low plant density are to be recommended and preferably in the long rainy season.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one of the innovative approaches for sustainably increasing the agricultural productivity, improving livelihoods and incomes of farmers, while at the same time improving resilience and contributing to climate change mitigation. In spite of the fact that there is neither explicit policy nor practices branded as CSA in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), farmers are utilizing an array of farming practices whose attributes meet the CSA criteria. However, the intensity, distribution, efficiency, and dynamics of use as well as the sources of these technologies are not sufficiently documented. Therefore, this review paper provides a comprehensive evidence of CSA-associated farming practices in DRC, public and private efforts to promote CSA practices, and the associated benefits accruing from the practices as deployed by farmers in the DRC. We find evidence of progress among farming communities in the use of practices that can be classified as CSA. Communities using these practices are building on the traditional knowledge systems and adaptation of introduced technologies to suit the local conditions. Reported returns on use of these practices are promising, pointing to their potential continued use into the future. While progressive returns on investment are reported, they are relatively lower than those reported from other areas in sub-Saharan Africa deploying similar approaches. We recommend for strategic support for capacity building at various levels, including public institutions for policy development and guidance, extension and community level to support uptake of technologies and higher education institutions for mainstreaming CSA into curricula and training a generation of CSA sensitive human resources.

La présente étude a été menée pour évaluer la réponse du soja à des doses croissantes du DAP et de l'Urée dans les conditions édapho-climatiques de Bugorhe dans les hautes altitudes du Sud-Kivu. Méthodologie et résultats : Une expérimentation a été conduite suivant un dispositif en parcelle divisée (split plot) avec la source d'engrais azoté et la dose d'application des engrais comme facteur principal et facteur secondaire respectivement. Trois doses de l'Urée et du Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) ont été appliquées à raison de 50 kg ha-1 (D1), 100 kg ha-1 (D2) et 150 kg ha-1 (D3) et une dose témoin D0 (sans engrais). Le rendement en graines variait significativement en fonction de la dose (p=0,0015) et de la nature (source) d'engrais azoté (p=0,0199). Le DAP avait permis d'obtenir le rendement le plus élevé (1158,1 kg ha-1) comparativement à l'Urée (956,7 kg ha-1). Quant aux doses d'engrais, le rendement variait proportionnellement avec la dose d'engrais appliquée : la D3 (150 kg ha-1) du DAP a donné une moyenne élevée de rendement en graines (1640,9 kg ha-1) alors que la dose témoin a donné une faible moyenne de rendement en graines (694,1 kg ha-1). Pour l'Urée, la dose D3 avait permis d'obtenir le rendement en graines le plus élevé (1229,8 kg ha-1) comparativement à la dose témoin (627,4 kg ha-1). Le rapport valeur sur coût obtenu sur les différentes doses d'engrais montre que la dose de 50 kg ha-1 de l'Urée et 100 kg ha-1 du DAP sont plus rentables avec des valeurs de 3,53 USD (4987,89 francs congolais) et 4,23 USD (5976,99 francs congolais). L'efficacité agronomique des doses d'engrais a varié entre 4,01 et 6,31 pour la dose 150 kg ha-1 de l'Urée et du DAP. Conclusion et application des résultats : Les résultats montrent que la dose de 150 kg ha-1 pour le DAP et l'Urée permettrait d'améliorer le rendement en graines du soja au Sud Kivu mais, n'est pas rentable. Cependant, les doses de 50 kg ha-1 et 100 kg ha-1 de l'Urée et DAP sont à encourager le plus au vue de leurs rentabilités.

Monitoring of environmental parameters is one of the highest priorities in the evaluation of environmental status of water resources and in environmental protection policy. The main objectives are to understand and evaluate the water quantity and quality in order to provide water of appropriate quality to various water users. The water quantity was assessed by the measurement of runoff or discharge at specific river cross sections using floating method for surface water and bucket and stopwatch method for springs and boreholes. The quality of river water and spring was identified in terms of its physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The analyzed data were compared with standard values recommended by WHO. Macroinvertebrates were collected in the rivers using a plankton nets and 10 minutes of sampling. Identification was made at the laboratory of Malacology. Results revealed that the quality of water obtained from sampling points is generally good to use for different domestic purposes except the Idanta River and Rwembwe borehole, which need an appropriate treatment before use. All sampling points are located far from houses and latrines, which can contribute to fecal contamination. On the different sampling points, bathing and washing clothes were observed and could constitute the source of pollution of drinking water. In Idanta and Kamira Rivers animals used water for drinking while also people use this water for domestic and drinking. In the two sampling points high values of Escherichia coli * Corresponding author. K. Karume et al. 383 were found. No pollutant-taxa tolerant were found in the two monitored rivers for macroinvertebrates. Since water quality and quantity remain a major challenge in rural areas, the government should provide safe water to the population around Mikeno sector after treatment using suitable techniques.

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Objective: In the highlands of South-Kivu province of DR Congo, cassava is grown on marginal land not suitable for other crops. Walungu territory for instance is dominated by acidic soils and has the highest nutrient depletion rate in the country. On such types of soil, nutrient depletion is accompanied by a decrease in the availability of phosphorus and many other nutrients. The use of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) would therefore be an alternative to improve the phosphate nutrition of cassava under different soil conditions. Methodology and results: The experiment reported in the current study was conducted in pots under semi-controlled conditions. Ferrallitic soil from Walungu was used. Soil was sterilized or not and then inoculated with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis (RI) strain. Results showed that inoculation with an exotic AMF strain (Rhizophagus iregularis) has significantly increased root abundance (number of roots) in both sterilized and unsterilized soil and root dry weight in sterilized soil only. However, in unsterilized soil, root dry weight decreased with AMF inoculation. In Walungu acidic soils, P supply could significantly influence the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on root development and root abundance. AMF inoculation has significantly increased the shoot P concentration when P was supplied. In sterilized soil, mycorrhizal inoculation had a depressant effect on soil phosphorus concentration, especially when P was not supplied. Conclusion and application of results: Our results suggest that the introduced Rhizophagus iregularis strain increases P uptake in the rhizospheric soil, especially when phosphorus is not applied to the sterilized or unsterilized soil. The use of the Rhizophagus irregularis strain as a biofertilizer could improve phosphorus nutrition and root development in cassava. Keywords: Arbuscular mycorrhizae, Rhizophagus irregularis, P uptake, Cassava, Ferrallitic soil