Abstract
Cocoa farmers’ excessive use of agrochemicals in cocoa agroforests has major repercussions on soil organisms, which play a great role in soil fertility enhancement. This study was carried out to examine the relationship between agrochemical use and soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa agroforests in Cameroon. A mixed research approach was used, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. It was found that the main types of agrochemicals used by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems were fungicides (100%), insecticides (100%), and herbicides (36.7%). The categorization of the major types of agrochemicals used by cocoa farmers revealed that, two types of herbicides, eight types of fungicides, and nine types of insecticides were used by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Most cocoa farmers perceived that all the agrochemicals lead to a decrease in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Chi-square test statistic results (X2 > 78, p<0.05) showed that cocoa farmers’ perceptions of the effects of agrochemicals on the diversity and abundance of soil macro-fauna in cocoa-based agroforestry systems differed significantly across the main types of agrochemicals (herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides). Correlation and regression analyses showed the existence of a statistically significant (p<0.05) inverse non-causal and causal relationship respectively between most agrochemicals and soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the use of these agrochemicals leads to a reduction in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa agroforests. Thus, it is recommended that measures be taken to reduce the use of agrochemicals in cocoa agroforests in order to safeguard the diversity and abundance of soil macro-fauna in these systems. Key words: Agrochemicals, soil fauna diversity, soil fauna, soil, agroforestry, cocoa, farmers, Cameroon
Highlights
Cocoa is a major cash crop cultivated in tropical regions of the world (Rice and Greenberg, 2000; Duguma et al, 2001; Wartenberg et al, 2017; Wartenberg et al, 2020; Dahlsjo et al, 2020)
5.3 3.7 eight types of fungicides, and nine types of insecticides were used by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems
A significant inverse relationship exists between most agrochemicals and soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the use of these agrochemicals leads to a reduction in soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance in cocoa agroforests
Summary
Cocoa is a major cash crop cultivated in tropical regions of the world (Rice and Greenberg, 2000; Duguma et al, 2001; Wartenberg et al, 2017; Wartenberg et al, 2020; Dahlsjo et al, 2020). The cultivation is done mainly by smallholder farmers who make up over 90% of cocoa farmers 2016; Prayogo et al, 2019; Niether et al, 2019) These smallholder farmers are often resource poor, and use mainly rudimentary production techniques (Tankou, 2015). The cocoa sector needs major revamping across the tropics in order to ensure sustained production
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