Baseline edaphic requirements of soursop (Annona muricata L.)
2024
Kome, Georges K. | Enang, Roger K. | Silatsa, Francis B.T. | Yerima, Bernard P.K. | Ranst, Eric Van
Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is considered to be a neglected or underutilized plant. Recently, the plant has been found to have great medicinal potential and could significantly improve food security due to its high nutritional and calorific value. Soursop is reported to grow extensively in tropical environments. However, there is a lack of information on the most suitable soil conditions for its growth and development. This work aims is to identify and establish edaphic requirements of A. muricata through an extensive bibliographic study to contribute information necessary to improve soil management vis-à-vis optimal production. Optimal climatic conditions are as follows: mean annual temperature (22−25 °C), mean annual rainfall (2,000−2,500 mm), relative humidity (70%−80%), soil temperature at 0−50 cm soil depth (25−35 °C), soil moisture regime (udic), altitude (200–300 m a.s.l.). Highly suitable soil physical characteristics include well-drained and deep (> 180 cm) soils with a light texture (loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, sandy clay loam). As concerns soil chemical characteristics, pH should range between 5.5−6.5, high organic matter content, base saturation > 60%, and Al saturation < 20%. These results could be refined with data from field trials conducted in different environments.
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