In response to the continuing decline in the fertility of tropical agricultural soils, the use of grain legumes has been developed as an alternative form of organic fertilization, as it integrates the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity. The present study, conducted in the Karamokola area in central-western Côte d’Ivoire, falls within this framework and aims to compare the effect of two legume crops (soybean: Glycine max and bean: Phaseolus vulgaris) on soil macroinvertebrates. To this end, an experimental design consisting of four randomized blocks comparing four treatments (beans, soybeans, beans and soybeans, and a control) was set up on two fallow plots that were more than five years old. The results showed that the plots with a previous monoculture of beans and a previous mixed crop (beans and soybeans) harbored 15 taxonomic groups, compared to 10 groups for the control. In addition, there was a greater abundance of macroinvertebrates, with 675.75 individuals per m2 (previous bean monoculture) and 653.25 individuals per m2 (previous bean-soybean intercropping). Furthermore, soybean monoculture hosted an intermediate abundance of macroinvertebrates of 156.12 individuals per square meter.In addition, bean monoculture significantly improved (p˂0.05) the organic matter content (OM = 1.82%), carbon (C = 1.06%), and nitrogen (N = 0.09%) content of the soil compared to the other treatments (soybean monoculture and bean-soybean combination), which recorded statistically identical values (OM = 1.00% soybean and 1.17% bean-soybean); C = 0.58% soybean and 0.68% bean-soybean: N = 0.05% soybean and 0.06% bean-soybean). The positive correlations (r ≥ 0.85) between soil organic status and macroinvertebrate density, taxonomic richness, and Shannon diversity index suggest a synergistic relationship between these two compartments (soil organic status and density). The mechanisms governing the increases in abundance and diversity under the bean and bean-soybean treatments are discussed, and we recommend that farmers grow beans or bean-soybeans before planting any other crops in the Karamokola area of Béré in Côte d’Ivoire.

This study is part of the sustainable management of soil fertility. It aims to identify biofertilizers to boost eggplant production. For this purpose, a randomized block device with three repetitions was set up. Within this device, the treatment consisted of the application of two biofertilizers separately or in combination: T0 (control): plot without fertilizer, T1: Plot fertized only with Azolla filiculoïdes, T2: Plot fertilized only with Tithonia diversifolia and T3: Plot fertilized only with chicken manure. From planting to harvest, growth parameters and yield (leaf length and width, height, diameter, wingspan, number of vegetables) of the Kalenda F1 eggplant variety were collected. The result of statistical analyses showed that the growth and production of plants was booted by the biofertilizer T.diversifolia. However, Azolla filiculoides could be applied in the absence of T.diversifolia.

Ricinodendron heudelotii var. heudelotii is a highly prized forest species, used in the form of seasoning by the populations of Côte d'Ivoire. It is becoming rare due to the abusive exploitation of wood. Its ecological and agroforestry importance is attracting a lot of interest and makes its domestication a priority. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the type of stem and of substrate for propagation by cuttings in regeneration of this forest species. To this end, 14 cm long softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings were taken from mature trees and planted in arable, urea and sawdust substrates. The topsoil gave the best growth recovery rate of 76.11% followed by the soil-urea substrate with 44.44% and the lowest rate was observed with the sawdust substrate with 18.89%. In addition, 81.11% of the semi-hardwood cuttings budded compared to 52.22% for the softwood cuttings. A total of 37.65% of plants survived. the semi-hardwood cuttings proved to be more efficient for the production of Ricinodendron heudelotii plants than the softwood cuttings which gave a very high mortality rate. Semi-hardwood cuttings would contain sufficient nutrient reserves for root development and growth recovery. This study proved that in vivo propagation by cuttings could be a real alternative to the regeneration of this woody species.