Soil Science and Sustainable Agriculture Program, Laboratory of Soil Sciences, Water, and Geomaterials (LSSEG), Faculty of Earth and Mineral Sciences (STRM), Felix Houphouet-Boigny University Abidjan (UFHB), 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d’Ivoire
The comparative study of cocoa-based agroforests, fallow lands, and forests in the Akoupé department reveals promising results in combating climate change. Cocoa-based agroforests (SAFs) stand out with a higher average nitrogen content (0.22) compared to fallow lands (0.14) and forests (0.08), promoting carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Correlation analysis shows a moderate positive relationship between nitrogen and potassium, enhancing nutrient utilization and strengthening crop resilience against climate variations. While SAFs sometimes exceed sustainable agriculture thresholds for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and to a lesser extent, fallow lands for nitrogen, sustainable management practices (crop rotation, organic fertilization) can mitigate these exceedances. Overall, SAFs prove to be powerful allies against climate change. Their carbon sequestration capacity, resilience, and agricultural potential make them essential systems for sustainable agriculture. These findings can guide farmers and policymakers towards environmentally friendly practices and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.