Valorization Test of Organic Manure and Chemical Fertilizers on Growth Parameters of Two Varieties of Sorghum Bicolor (L.) in a Degraded Soil of Sudano-Sahelean Zone, Cameroon

Abstract

In the Far-North region of Cameroon, where the population increases due to the demographic growth and consequently the demand in food is manifested considerably for the populations which are most focused on the agriculture practices. The peasants, who are the main actors of rural area are leads to the low productivity of cultures due to the poor crops management practices (the absence of cultures rotation) and the low soil fertility. This study was carried out at the Polyvalente Station of Agricultural Research of the North-Cameroon. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of chemical fertilizers associated with the organic manure on the growth parameters of Sorghum varieties (Local and Zouaye) in a degraded soil. Treatments were: T0 (0 kg of control); T1 (14 kg of poultry manure); T2 (2.4 kg of fertilizers 23-10-5+2Mgo +7.5S); T3 (14 kg of poultry manure + 2.4 kg of fertilizers 23-10-5+2Mgo +7.5S). The experimental design was a completely randomized blocks with 3 repetitions. The parameters evaluated were: the germination rate, the height and the diameters of plants. The results showed that the germination rate was important with the use of poultry manure and the association of both treatments for the two varieties of Sorghum. Referred to the control, the use of all substrates such as poultry manure, fertilizers and both treatments, significantly improves the height of plants for the varieties of Sorghum. However, the number of leaves emitted by these varieties was significant (P≤0.05) with the use of all substrates. The use of poultry manure, mineral fertilizers and the associated of substrates poultry manure + mineral fertilizers significantly improve the diameter of these varieties, compared to non-amended plots.