Morphology, Physicochemical Characteristics and Land Suitability in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphology and physicochemical properties of soils and their suitability to potatoes, maize and beans, in order to contribute to stop rural migration, prevent conflicts between farmers and breeders and contribute to the increase of agricultural yields in the eastern slope of the Bambouto Mountain, Cameroon. Morphologically, the studied soil profiles are poorly or more developed, characterized respectively by AC or ABC horizon sequences. All the soil samples recorded acidic pH (4.8 to 5.5) except in the Bawa and in Zavion footslope where this pH is slightly acidic (6.0 to 6.2). Nitrogen contents are low to medium (0.04 to 0.225), except in midslope and footslope of Zavion site where these contents are very high (0.406 and 0.436% respectively). Organic matter contents increase from the Medji (1.42%) site to Zavion site (9.84%). High content of organic matter in Bawa located at the same altitude as Medji is related to the basaltic bedrock which glasses weathering might induce increase of organic matter content, while high content in Zavion might be mostly related to the increase in altitude and the decrease of temperature which slacks up microorganism activities. Phosphorous level is very low and largely under the critical limit (20 ppm) for all the study sites. Calcium is the dominant exchangeable cation, with contents ranging between 0.13 and 7.53 cmol(+)/kg of soil. The cation exchange capacity varied between 2.03 and 29.59 cmol(+)/kg of soil. Base saturation percentage fluctuates from 11.80 to 39.70%. The production of bean, maize and potatoes in the study sites is limited due to high rainfall and wetness, high slope gradient and soil fertility problems which could respectively be solved by promoting crops cultivation at the end of the raining season, terracing of arable land and fertilization and liming.