Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon
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 de...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Eurasian Journal of Soil Science |
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| Online Access: | http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.460841 |
| _version_ | 1827832928857489408 |
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| author | Simon Djakba Basga Jean Pierre Temga Désiré Tsozué Nicodème Danbé Jean Pierre Nguetnkam |
| author_facet | Simon Djakba Basga Jean Pierre Temga Désiré Tsozué Nicodème Danbé Jean Pierre Nguetnkam |
| author_sort | Simon Djakba Basga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 ≤ pHwater ≤ 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. |
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| id | doaj.art-2a347cf88e014b01be6e1177fb9875c0 |
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| issn | 2147-4249 2147-4249 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:21:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Federation of Eurasian Soil Science Societies |
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| series | Eurasian Journal of Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a347cf88e014b01be6e1177fb9875c02023-09-03T07:39:41ZengFederation of Eurasian Soil Science SocietiesEurasian Journal of Soil Science2147-42492147-42492018-10-017434635410.18393/ejss.460841Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North CameroonSimon Djakba Basga0Jean Pierre Temga1Désiré Tsozué2Nicodème Danbé3Jean Pierre Nguetnkam4Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Yagoua, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua. Maroua, CameroonInstitute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Maroua, CameroonDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, CameroonIn 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 ≤ pHwater ≤ 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.http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.460841Topomorphic vertisolsclaysmectitesdry season sorghumNorth Cameroon |
| spellingShingle | Simon Djakba Basga Jean Pierre Temga Désiré Tsozué Nicodème Danbé Jean Pierre Nguetnkam Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon Eurasian Journal of Soil Science Topomorphic vertisols clay smectites dry season sorghum North Cameroon |
| title | Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon |
| title_full | Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon |
| title_fullStr | Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon |
| title_short | Morphological, mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in North Cameroon |
| title_sort | morphological mineralogical and geochemical features of topomorphic vertisols used for sorghum production in north cameroon |
| topic | Topomorphic vertisols clay smectites dry season sorghum North Cameroon |
| url | http://ejss.fesss.org/10.18393/ejss.460841 |
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