Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité

Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of three tropical acidic soils of Rwanda under natural fallows and productivity constraints. Three acidic soils of highland (HL), middle land (ML) and lowland (LL) from Rwanda were sampled respectively in the experimental stations of Gakuta, To...

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Main Authors: Culot M, Bucagu C., Mbonigaba Muhinda JJ., Nzeyimana I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux 2009-01-01
Series:Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v13n4/545.pdf
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author Culot M
Bucagu C.
Mbonigaba Muhinda JJ.
Nzeyimana I.
author_facet Culot M
Bucagu C.
Mbonigaba Muhinda JJ.
Nzeyimana I.
author_sort Culot M
collection DOAJ
description Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of three tropical acidic soils of Rwanda under natural fallows and productivity constraints. Three acidic soils of highland (HL), middle land (ML) and lowland (LL) from Rwanda were sampled respectively in the experimental stations of Gakuta, Tonga and Cyabayaga for a physical, chemical and microbiological characterization in order to determine their productivity constraints. Soils are strongly acidic in the HL and ML (pH 4.1 and 4.7) and moderately acidic in LL (pH 5.5). The rate of total organic carbon (Corg) is acceptable in Gakuta (4.5%), but decreases with altitude. The total nitrogen (Ntot), the phosphorus and the effective cation exchange capacity follow the same trend, their levels remaining nevertheless weak. Base saturation and Bray2-P content are weak in the HL and ML, but also they are negatively correlated with Corg content. The Al3+ ion occupies 32 and 18% of the exchange complex at Gakuta and Tonga, and is non-existent in Cyabayaga soils. Carbon microbial biomass (Cmic : Corg) and nitrogen microbial biomass (Nmic : Ntot) ratios indicate a weak mineralization/immobilization rate in the highly acidic soils, and are positively correlated with soil pH. Cmic : Nmic ratio values obtained indicate a soil microbial population dominated by fungi, which predicts a poor organic matter (OM) quality. The small proportion of the assimilate carbon fraction at Gakuta (5% of Corg) testifies also to the OM poor quality. Basal respiration rate is very low (0.30 - 0.37 μg CO2 .h-1.g-1). The addition of glucose for the substrate inducedrespiration has considerably stimulated the metabolic activity, which results in low values of respiratory activation quotient(QR = 0.4-0.5). Dehydrogenase and acidic phosphatase activities are very low but positively correlated with Corg. The soil acidity remains the principal constraint to land productivity in the HL and ML regions while low soil OM and N contents would constitute a limitation in LL zone if appropriate land management practices are not used.
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spelling doaj.art-8091cae7393847418276358eebc800fb2022-12-22T03:18:52ZengPresses Agronomiques de GemblouxBiotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement1370-62331780-45072009-01-01134545558Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivitéCulot MBucagu C.Mbonigaba Muhinda JJ.Nzeyimana I.Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of three tropical acidic soils of Rwanda under natural fallows and productivity constraints. Three acidic soils of highland (HL), middle land (ML) and lowland (LL) from Rwanda were sampled respectively in the experimental stations of Gakuta, Tonga and Cyabayaga for a physical, chemical and microbiological characterization in order to determine their productivity constraints. Soils are strongly acidic in the HL and ML (pH 4.1 and 4.7) and moderately acidic in LL (pH 5.5). The rate of total organic carbon (Corg) is acceptable in Gakuta (4.5%), but decreases with altitude. The total nitrogen (Ntot), the phosphorus and the effective cation exchange capacity follow the same trend, their levels remaining nevertheless weak. Base saturation and Bray2-P content are weak in the HL and ML, but also they are negatively correlated with Corg content. The Al3+ ion occupies 32 and 18% of the exchange complex at Gakuta and Tonga, and is non-existent in Cyabayaga soils. Carbon microbial biomass (Cmic : Corg) and nitrogen microbial biomass (Nmic : Ntot) ratios indicate a weak mineralization/immobilization rate in the highly acidic soils, and are positively correlated with soil pH. Cmic : Nmic ratio values obtained indicate a soil microbial population dominated by fungi, which predicts a poor organic matter (OM) quality. The small proportion of the assimilate carbon fraction at Gakuta (5% of Corg) testifies also to the OM poor quality. Basal respiration rate is very low (0.30 - 0.37 μg CO2 .h-1.g-1). The addition of glucose for the substrate inducedrespiration has considerably stimulated the metabolic activity, which results in low values of respiratory activation quotient(QR = 0.4-0.5). Dehydrogenase and acidic phosphatase activities are very low but positively correlated with Corg. The soil acidity remains the principal constraint to land productivity in the HL and ML regions while low soil OM and N contents would constitute a limitation in LL zone if appropriate land management practices are not used.http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v13n4/545.pdfTropical acidic soilssoil acidityorganic mattermicrobial biomassmicrobial activityRwanda
spellingShingle Culot M
Bucagu C.
Mbonigaba Muhinda JJ.
Nzeyimana I.
Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement
Tropical acidic soils
soil acidity
organic matter
microbial biomass
microbial activity
Rwanda
title Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
title_full Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
title_fullStr Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
title_full_unstemmed Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
title_short Caractérisation physique, chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du Rwanda sous jachères naturelles et contraintes à leur productivité
title_sort caracterisation physique chimique et microbiologique de trois sols acides tropicaux du rwanda sous jacheres naturelles et contraintes a leur productivite
topic Tropical acidic soils
soil acidity
organic matter
microbial biomass
microbial activity
Rwanda
url http://www.pressesagro.be/base/text/v13n4/545.pdf
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