MOKOSSESSE, J. A. Université de Bangui - Faculté des Sciences, Centrafrique , JOSENS, G. Université Libre de Bruxelles - Département de Biologie des Organismes, Belgique , MBOUKOULIDA, J. Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de M Baïki, Centrafrique , LEDENT, J. F. Université Catholique de Louvain - Unité d écophysiologie et amélioration végétale, Belgique

EFFECT OF FIELD APPLICATION OF Cubitermes (ISOPTERA, TERMITIDAE) MOUND SOIL ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF MAIZE IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

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This work was undertaken at two different sites (A and B) in the field in Central African Republic (4°23 N, 18° W) during a two years-period. The objective of the work is to show the effect of termites (Cubitermes sp.) mounds on the growth and yield of maize. Samples of 250 g (T1) and 1000 g (T2) of mounds materials were applied before maize sowing and plant growth parameters were monitored. Results show that the application of 1 kg of termites mounds (containing, on average, 1.46 - 1.60 g mineralizable N) produced significant maize growth 30 days after sowing. Yield also increased by 45.1 % for a planting density of 31 250 plants ha^-1, is a significant difference 0,92 t / ha (p 0.05) as compared to the control. The effect of the mounds on the growth which became significant after 30 days, suggests that from this period, maize root zone would explored a certain volume of soil. Although the turn-over of Cubitermes mounds was fast, their intensive use industrially would certainly raise the issue of availability.

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Cubitermes , mounds , fertilizer , amendment maize

Agronomie Africaine

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