@article{fdi:010042729,
  title = {{I}s soil quality improvement by legume cover crops a function of the initial soil chemical characteristics?},
  author = {{K}one, {A}.{W}. and {T}ondoh, {J}.{E}. and {A}ngui, {P}.{K}.{T}. and {B}ernhard {R}eversat, {F}rance and {L}oranger {M}erciris, {G}ladys and {B}runet, {D}idier and {B}redoumi, {S}.{T}.{K}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he aim of this study, which was conducted in a humid savannah zone of central {C}ote d'{I}voire, was to examine changes in the quality of soil cultivated with herbaceous legume cover crops as a function of initial soil characteristics. {M}ucuna pruriens var utilis and {P}ueraria phaseoloides were used in a two side-by-side location experiment: a shrubby savannah (the savannah site or "{SAV}") and a natural fallow dominated by {C}hromolaena odorata (the fallow site or "{FAL}"). {T}he latter was mainly characterized by higher organic matter [organic carbon ({C}) 10 vs. 7.5 mg kg(-1); total nitrogen ({N}) 0.8 vs. 0.5 mg kg(-1)) and total phosphorus ({P}) (282.3 vs. 168.3 mg kg(-1)) contents in the upper soil layer (0-10 cm). {A}fter 8 months of growth, biomass production by {M}. pruriens was found to be 6.5 and 4.9 t dry matter ({DM}) ha(-1) at {FAL} and {SAV}, respectively. {F}or {P}. phaseoloides, the values were 7.2 and 6.4 t {DM} ha(-1), respectively, in approximately the same period. {T}he quantities of nutrients released by decomposing legume litter were higher at {FAL} than at {SAV}. {B}etween-site differences in soil quality improvement were most noticeable in terms of available {P}, microbial biomass carbon ({MBC}) and {MBC}:total carbon ({TC}) ratio. {T}he {FAL} site experienced a faster improvement of soil parameters under both legume species: available {P} increased from 18 to 58 mg kg(-1) under {M}. pruriens, and from 19 to 52 mg kg(-1) under {P}. phaseoloides; {MBC} increased from 88 to 185 mg kg(-1) under {M}. pruriens, and from 127 to 192 mg kg(-1) under {P}. phaseoloides. {I}n contrast, the parameters remained constant over time at {SAV}. {S}oil {C} and {N} contents as well as {C} mineralization showed similar trends at both sites. {B}ased on these results, we conclude that soil quality improvement under cover crops appears to be faster when the initial soil organic {C}, total {N} and {P} contents are adequate. {T}hese findings will be useful in assisting governmental decision-making on approaches to be taken for restoring soil fertility in low-input agricultural systems in {W}est {A}frica.},
  keywords = {{C}ote d'ivoire ; {H}erbaceous legumes ; {H}umid savannah ; {I}nitial soil characteristics ; {L}ow-input agriculture ; {S}oil quality improvement},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}utrient {C}ycling in {A}groecosystems},
  volume = {82},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {89--105},
  ISSN = {1385-1314},
  year = {2008},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10705-008-9172-4},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010042729},
}