Soil fertility capability classification (FCC) for rice production in Cameroon lowlands

Abstract

Fertility capability classification (FCC) system is a technical soil classification system focusing quantitatively on physical and chemical properties of soil important to soil fertility management. Lowland rice cultivation is a major activity in Cameroon, where demand for the commodity is increasing amidst increasing production constraints. This study was intended to classify lowland rice soils in major rice-growing areas into fertility capability classes, identify soil fertility limitations to increased lowland rice cultivation, and identify research areas needed to boost and sustain rice yields. Secondary data of selected soils characterized for morphological, physical and chemical properties was used. Soil fertility limitations characterizing lowland rice producing areas in Cameroon were: Fe-and Al-toxicities (a), low nutrient capital reserves (k), high leaching potential (e), and micronutrient deficiencies (Fe and Zn). The lowland soils were classified as: Lagk, Cagk, Laegk, Cbgm, Caeg, Lbg, Lgk, Cgv, LCg and Cgv, which reflect these limitations. A high potential exists to increase national rice production in Cameroon through research aimed at reducing the effects of Al and Fe toxicity, increasing nutrient capital reserves based on appropriate cultural and chemical techniques.

Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Cassava Production in Bukoba, Missenyi and Biharamulo Districts, Tanzania

“…Pedon MISSE-P1 had higher content of available P in the topsoil than pedons MARU-P1 and BIHA-P1 which had low levels throughout their profile depths. Some researchers elsewhere [83,9] reported similar trend. The low available P in pedons MARU-P1 and BIHA-P1 may be attributed to low inherent P in their parent materials which developed mainly on basement rocks of granite, quartzite and shale [63,30,16] and due to the effects of low soil pH which normally favours P fixation [66,16].…”

“…The low available P in pedons MARU-P1 and BIHA-P1 may be attributed to low inherent P in their parent materials which developed mainly on basement rocks of granite, quartzite and shale [63,30,16] and due to the effects of low soil pH which normally favours P fixation [66,16]. The fixation process involves reaction of P with iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) thereby inhibiting availability of P into the soil for plant uptake [53,83,66,9]. [53] reported that available P of < 15 mg kg -1 in soils would show crop response to P as observed in pedons MARU-P1 and BIHA-P1.…”

Soil Fertility Status in Bukoba, Missenyi and Biharamulo Districts in Kagera Region, Tanzania

“…The low to medium levels of extractable P in the fields in Bukoba and Biharamulo Districts may be attributed to the low inherent P in the parent materials developed mainly on basement rocks of granite, quartzite and shale [51,13,45]. It may also be due to low soil pH that normally favours reaction with iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) to inhibit the availability of P into the soil for plant uptake due to P fixation [36,52,17,45,53]. According to [36], plant response to applied P could be expected when soil available P is less than 15 mg kg -1 soil.…”

Fertility Capability Classification of Soils in Two Agro Ecological Zones in the Basement Complex Zone of Nigeria

“…The decline in soil fertility had been attributed to inadequate use of fertility inputs, on-going soil degradation, and increasingly intense land use without organic and mineral inputs to improve on soil fertility by burgeoning populations (St. Clair and Lynch, 2011). The rising temperature, drought, intense precipitation and other adverse weather conditions occasioned by the prevailing climate change could worsening the decline of soil fertility in the tropics (St. Clair and Lynch, 2011; Tabi et al 2013).…”