When Termites’ Waste Products Highlight a Fundamental Law of Fertilization under Rainfed Rice Cultivation in West Cote d'Ivoire

Abstract

Food security is a major development issue in Côte d’Ivoire that is experiencing population growth over 3% per year. Food crop production, however, is experiencing weak growth, most often linked to increase in area. In addition, low yields could be explained by the scarcity of rainfall in a context where farmers hardly use agronomic-based fertilizers without soil analysis although Cote d’Ivoire is agricultural based developing country. To be part of integrated production logic in rice production, a study is initiated in 2016 in Daloa in order to improve the yield of paddy rice by using a local amendment produced by termites kept in captivity on agricultural residues. Four (4) doses of this amendment made of termites’ waste products (TWP): 1.8%; 3.6% and 7.2% and 14.4% of one hectare soil weight were tested versus an unfertilized (control) and a NPK fertilized (100kg.ha)-. The experimental design consists of randomized complete blocks with three replicates. Plant growth parameters such as plant height at maturity, total number of tillers, number of leaves at the beginning of tillering, biomass at maturity and yield data were collected. The results showed that all agronomic parameters were improved with increasing dose up to an optimum dose that can be found between 7.2 % and 14.4 % of termites’ waste products. The highest yield (2484.3 kg.ha-1) was obtained with the 7.2 % dose. The results of the application of the TWP on rice showed important yield increases with efficacy varying from 30 to 72 % compared to common fertilizer application and 27.1 to 221.9 % if compared to non-fertilized plot.