The aim of the study was to assess the impact of cocoa-based agroforestry practices on natural soil productivity. The methodology consisted in identifying three cocoa-based agroforestry systems (simple, mixed or complex) guided by the opening of the canopy of various floristic species associated with cocoa trees, in which three 100 m2 plots were randomly set up to inventory the arboricultural species encountered, determine species density and plantation yields. The results identified 17 tree families divided into 27 plant species, of which 55.55% were found in the simple agroforestry system (SAGS), with a density of 55 trees/hectare, 70.37% in the mixed agroforestry system (SAGM), with a density of 155.33 trees/hectare, and 81.40% in the complex agroforestry system (SAGC), with a density of 224.33 trees/hectare. In terms of particle size, the SAGS and SAGC had a silty texture, whereas the SAGM had a silty-clay texture. Major element, trace element and clay-humus complex contents were satisfactory in all agroforestry systems, but in decreasing order in SAGM, SAGC and SAGS. Cocoa productivity was higher in SAGS (403.42kg/ha), than in SAGM (293.61kg/ha) and SAGC (204.68kg/ha). In conclusion, it should be noted that each forest agrosystem has very distinct characteristics and contributes to soil fertility at depths of 0-20cm. Moreover, SAGS is the agroforestry system with the best production and can be recommended during the establishment of cocoa plantations in Côte d’Ivoire.

This study was carried out to identify categories of ethnobotanical uses of plant in six localities of Gonate county, Central Western Cote d’Ivoire. An ethnobotanical survey based on semi-structured interviews was performed with 165 interviewees. Forty-four plants species including 42 genera and 27 families were recorded. The most used families were Euphorbiaceae, Verbenaceae and Anacardiaceae while Microphanerophyts (26.86%) were the most represented biological types. Plants are specially collected from fields, along the tracks, Forests, markets, and neighboring villages. Populations mainly used plants in four fields. There were Food (45.56%), the most important, Pharmacopoeia (27.98%), Energy (15.11%) and Handicrafts (11.35%). Overall, Tectona grandis was the most used plant with a citation index (IC) of 58.79%. Twenty-four 24 plants including Dioscorea alata (IC = 46.06%), Manihot esculenta (IC = 42.42%), Mangifera indica (IC = 38.18%) and Ceiba pentandra (IC = 36.97%) were moderately used. Regarding Pharmacopoeia field, the pathologies treated with plants were diarrhea, dysentery, stomach aches, ulcers, and abdominal pains, hemorrhoids, infertility and sexual transmitted diseases. These data could help studies to promote and develop conservation strategies for these useful resources.