Compost Derived from Cattle Manure: Appropriate Organic Amendment for the Regeneration of Afzelia africana under Sudano-Guinean Climate of Adamawa Cameroon

Abstract

Experiments in pots were conducted in order to establish appropriate technical route for regeneration of Afzelia africana, which becomes rare because of overexploitation in the Northern Cameroon. Study was conducted within campus of the University of Ngaoundere (Cameroon) from December 2017 to September 2018. A randomised experimental design with 04 treatments (control: unfertilized plant (T), compost derived from 100% cattle manure (CBV), compost derived from 100% poultry litter (CFP) and mixture 50% compost derived cattle manure with compost derived 50% poultry litter (MCBVFP)) was used. There were 45 plants per treatment. Seedling emergence rate and growth parameters (plant height, number of leaves per plant, diameter of stem at collar and total dry biomass of plant) were assessed, and 30 plants were sampled. Seedling emergence rates from treated pots by CBV, CFP and MCBVFP were 2.19, 1.81 and 1.31 respectively fold higher than that from unfertilized pots. There was a significant (p˂0.05) difference between compost qualities used relative to the growth parameters. CBV, CFP and MCBVFP encreased the total dry biomass of plants at 62.40%, 47.81%, 29.93% respectively compared to T. These results suggest that the origin and the quality of composting substrate was important not only for seedling emergence, but also for the growth of A. africana. We recommend the compost derived from 100% cattle manure for the regeneration of A. africana in the Nortern Cameroon.