Effet combiné des feuilles de Tithonia diversifolia et des engrais inorganiques sur les rendements du maïs et les propriétés d'un sol ferralitique au Centre Cameroun

Combined Effect of Thitonia diversifolia Leaves and Inorganic Fertlizers on Maize Grain Yield and Soil Properties of a Central Cameroon Acrisol. Properties of a Central Cameroon Acrisol A study was conducted on an Acrisol in Centre Cameroon in order to evaluate the combined effects of Tithonia diversifolia (FTd) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK and Urea) on maize grain yields and soil properties. The experimental design was a randomized completed block design with three replications and six treatments: T0 (0FTd, 0NPK and 0 Urea); T1 (0FTd, 150 kg 20-10-10 and 150 kg of Urea/ha); T2 (0FTd, 75 kg 20-10-10 and 75 kg of Urea/ha); T3 (2.5 t/ha FTd, 0NPK and 0 Urea); T4 (5 t/ha FTd, 0NPK and 0 Urea); T5 (2.5 t/ha FTd, 75 kg 20-10-10 and 75 kg of Urea). Soil and Tithonia samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients contents. Tithonia leaves (FTd) were incorporated into the soil two weeks before maize sowing. Physico-chemical laboratory analyses were carried out on soil samples and Tithonia leaves. Highly significant differences (p= 0.006 and p< 0.000 respectively) were observed between treatments in the first and second cropping season for maize grain yields which varied between 1.8 to 6.4 t.ha-1; with the highest values obtained in T4 and T5 and the lowest in T0. The general trend of productivity was ranked as: T5=T4 >T1>T3>T2>T0. No significant difference was observed for all the soil properties tested. However, in the general trend, most soil properties tended to increase at the end of the experiment, excepted sand content, pH and available phosphorus. With the acceptability index (IA) of more than 2 in T4 (2.65) and T5 (2.53), the study has shown that Tithonia diversifolia has a potential for improving plant nutrient availability in these soils for the cultivation of maize without chemical fertilizers.