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: 2

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

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