Cocoa Farmers’ Perceptions of the Contribution of Tree Diversity and Abundance to Soil Fertility in Cocoa-Based (Theobroma cacao) Agroforestry Systems in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Tree diversity and abundance within an agroforestry system plays a crucial role in the provision of different ecosystem services. It was within this framework that this study sought to examine the contribution of tree diversity and abundance to soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. A mixed research approach was adopted during data collection and data analysis was done through the use of descriptive and inferential statistical tools. From the findings of the study, it was revealed that most cocoa farmers perceive tree diversity in cocoa-based agroforestry systems to be between average (50%), high (15%) and very high (20%), while tree abundance was between average (40%), and low (30%). The main types of tree species integrated by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems were fruit trees (100%), fuelwood trees (70%), trees for shade (52.7%) and trees for building materials (40%). A statistically significant direct relationship (p<0.05) existed between different levels of tree diversity (very high tree diversity, high tree diversity, average tree diversity, low tree diversity, and very low tree diversity) and soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the greater the diversity of tree species the greater the levels of soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Different levels of tree abundance in cocoa agroforests such as average tree abundance, low tree abundance and very low tree abundance had a statistically significant direct relationship (p<0.05) with soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the lower the level of tree abundance, the greater the level of soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems. Meanwhile levels of tree abundance in cocoa agroforests such as very high tree abundance and high tree abundance had a statistically significant inverse relationship (p<0.05) with soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems, implying that the higher the tree abundance, the lesser the level of soil fertility. Thus, it is recommended that more diverse tree species should be integrated in cocoa-based agroforestry systems while tree abundance should be kept to an average level in order to sustain the level of soil fertility in cocoa-based agroforestry systems.