Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 4, 346 - 354, 01.10.2018

Simon Djakba Basga Jean Pierre Temga Désiré Tsozué Nicodème Danbé Jean Pierre Nguetnkam

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.460841

Cited By: 3

Abstract

In the
present study, two topomorphic vertisols profiles used for sorghum production
were described and characterized. After macroscopic characterization, physicochemical,
mineralogical and geochemical analyses were made. Physicochemical analyses were
made by standard methods while mineralogy was determined on clay fraction
(˂2µm) by X-ray diffraction coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Geochemical analysis was determined on 180µm fraction by inductively coupled
plasma- Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Results revealed that studied vertisols were average deep, less differentiated
with desiccations cracks and gilgai micro relief. The angular blocky structure
and clayey texture were observed. They were alkaline (7.3 ≤ pH_water
≤ 8.4) and recorded a low to moderate organic matter and nitrogen contents.
Cation exchange capacity was high reaching 52.24 meq 100g^-1 and
exchangeable cations were moderates with Ca²⁺ (3.69- 29.6 meq 100g^-1)
the most represented cation. Vertisols were made of smectites associated to
kaolinite and a lesser content of quartz. Illites and calcite were also
identified in some horizons. On the geochemical point of view, Si02 (55.87-
83.64%), Al₂O₃ (6.08-20.25%), Fe₂O₃
(2.09-6.39%) and K₂O (1.43-2.24 %) were the dominant oxides. Traces
elements were represented essentially by Ba (518-1202 mg kg^-1), Zr
(334-685 mg kg^-1) and Sr (71-190 mg kg^-1). The overall
features are suitable to dry season sorghum production. The amount of smectites
seemed to be an important factor affecting their water holding capacity on
which dry season sorghum production depends. Improved cropping systems have to
be developed to sustain productivity in vertisols with low smectites and where
annual rainfall is lesser.

Keywords

Topomorphic vertisols, clay, smectites, dry season sorghum, North Cameroon

References

• Abbaslou, H., Martin, F., Abtahi, A., Moore, F., 2014. Traces elements concentrations and background values in the arid soils of Hormozgan province of southern Iran. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science 60(8): 1125-1143.
• Adjia, H.Z., Villiéras, F., Kamga, R., Thomas, F., 2013. Mineralogy and physic-chemical properties of alluvial clays from far-north Cameroon: A tool for an environmental problem. International Journal of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering 5(1): 54-66.
• Ambassa-Kiki, R., Aboubakar, Y., Boulama, T., 1996. Zero-tillage for rice production on Cameroonian vertisols. Soil and Tillage Research 39(1-2): 75–84.
• Ben Hassine, H., 2006. Mineralogical nature and nutritional role of cereal soil clays in subhumid and semi-arid zones (Tunisia). Comptes Rendus Geoscience 338(5): 329-340.
• Blanchart, E., Achouak, W., Albrecht, A., Barakat, M., Bellier, G., Cabidoche, Y.M., Hartmann, C., Heulin, T., Lané-Larrouy, C., Laurent, J.Y., Mathieu, M., Thomas, F., Villemin, G., Watteau, F., 2000. Déterminants biologiques de l’agrégation dans les vertisols des petites Antilles. Conséquences sur l’érodibilité. Etude et Gestion des Sols 7(4): 309- 328. [in French]
• Brabant, P., Gavaud, M., 1985. Soils and land resources of North Cameroon (North and Far North Provinces). Paris, ORSTOM-MESRES-IRA. [in French]
• Caillère, S., Henin, S., Rautureau, M., 1982. Minéralogie des argiles : Classification et nomenclature (Tome 2). Masson (éd). 189p. [in French]
• Coulombe, C.E., Wilding, L.P., Dixon, J.B., 1996. Overviews of vertisols: Characteristics and impacts on society. Advances in Agronomy 57: 289-375.
• Dudal, R., 1965. Dark clay soils of tropical and subtropical regions. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Agricultural Development. Paper No 83, Rome, Italy, 172 p.
• Dudal, R., Eswaran, H., 1988. Distribution, properties and classification of vertisols. In: Vertisols: their distribution, properties, classification and management. Wilding, L.P., Puentes, R. (Eds.). Texas A&M University, Printing Centre, College Station, Texas, USA. pp. 1-22.
• Farmer, V.C., 1979. Infrared spectroscopy. In: Data handbook for clay materials and other non-metallic minerals. Van Olphen, H., Fripiat, J.J. (Eds.). Perganon Press, Oxford, UK. pp. 285-330.
• Kenga, R., Njoya A., M’biandoun, M., 2005. Analysis of constraints to agricultural production in the sudano savanna zone of Cameroon and implication for research priority setting. Tropicultura 23(2): 91-99.
• Kovda, I.V., Wilding L.P., 2004. Vertisols: problems of classification, evolution and spatial self-organization. Eurasian Soil Science 37(12): 1341-1351.
• Mathieu, B., 2005. Une démarche agronomique pour accompagner le changement technique : cas de l'emploi des herbicides dans les systèmes de culture à sorgho repiqué au Nord-Cameroun. Thèse de Doctorat; Institut National Agronomique Paris Grignon, 234p. [in French]
• Mathieu, B., Fotsing, E., Gautier, D., 2002. L'extension récente du muskuwaari au Nord-Cameroun : Dynamique endogène et nouveaux besoins de recherche. In: Savanes africaines : des espaces en mutation, des acteurs face à de nouveaux défis. Jamin J.Y., Seiny Boukar, L., Floret, C. (Eds.). Actes du colloque, mai 2002, Garoua, Cameroun. Prasac, N’Djamena, Tchad - Cirad, Montpellier, France. [in French]
• Mémento de l’Agronome. 1991. République Française, Ministère de la Coopération et du Développement 1635 p. [in French] Moustakas, N.K., 2012. A study of vertisol genesis in North Eastern Greece. Catena 92: 208-215.
• Munsell Soil Color Chart, 2014. Available at [Access date: 13.02.2018]: https://munsell.com/color-products/color-communications-products/environmental-color-communication/munsell-soil-color-charts/
• Nguetnkam, J.P., 2004. Les argiles des vertisols et des sols fersiallitiques de l’Extrême Nord du Cameroun: genèse, propriétés cristallochimiques et texturales, typologie et application à la décoloration des huiles végétales. Thèse Doct., Univ. Yaoundé I, Cameroon. 216p. [in French]
• Nguetnkam, J.P., Kamga, R., Villiéras, F., Ekodeck, G.E., Yvon, J., 2007. Altération du granite en zones tropicales. Exemple de deux séquences étudiées au Cameroun (Afrique centrale). Etude et Gestion des Sols 14(1): 31-41. [in French]
• Nzeukou Nzeugang, A., Medjo, E.R., Fagel, N., Kamgang, K.B., Njoya, A., Balo M.A., Mache, J.R., Melo, C.U., 2013. Characterization of clay deposits of Nanga-Eboko (Central Cameroon): suitability for the production of building materials. Clay Minerals 48(4): 655-662.
• Pedro, G., 1968. Distribution des principaux types d’altération chimique a la surface du globe. Revue de Géographie Physique et Géologie Dynamique 10(5): 457–470. [in French]
• Rahim, I.S., Wahba, M.M., Amal, M.A., 2015. Micromorphological characteristics of vertisols in Egypt. International Journal of Research in Management 5(6): 1-7.
• Raunet, M., 2003. Quelques clés morpho-pédologiques pour le Nord Cameroun à l’usage des agronomes. CIRAD, Montpellier, 24 p. [in French]
• Tabo, R., Olabanji, O.G., Ajayi, O., Flower, D.J., 2002. Effect of plant population density on the growth and yield of sorghum varieties grown on vertisols. African Crop Science Journal 10(1): 31-38.
• Tamfuh, P.A., 2012. Petrological, physico-chemical and mechanical study of the Benue watershed vertisols (North Cameroon): spatial analysis and agricultural potential evaluation. Ph.D Thesis, University of Yaoundé 1; Yaoundé, Cameroon. 172p.
• Tamfuh, P.A., Woumfo, E.D., Bitom, D., Njopwouo, D., 2011. Petrological, physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of the topomorphic vertisols from the Sudano-sahelian region of North Cameroon. The Open Geology Journal 5: 33-55.
• Temga, J.P., Nguetnkam, J.P., Balo, M.A., Basga, S.D., Bitom, D.L., 2015. Morphological, physico chemical, mineralogical and geochemical properties of vertisols used in bricks production in the Logone Valley (Cameroon, Central Africa). International Research Journal of Geology and Mining 5(2): 20-30.
• Walkley, A., Black, C.A., 1934. An examination of Digestion method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 37(1): 29-38.
• Wilding, L.P., 2004. Advancement in the knowledge base of vertisols genesis, classification, distribution and management. Revista Científica Agropecuaria 8(1): 45-54.
• WRB, 2014. World reference base for soil resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports 106. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome, Italy. Available at [access date: 13.02.2018]: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3794e.pdf