Chromolaena odorata, an invasive plant of the Asteraceae family, is widespread in Africa, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, where it poses significant challenges to agricultural systems by competing with crops for essential resources. However, this plant also offers ecological and agronomic benefits when integrated into sustainable agricultural practices. It can enrich soils with essential nutrients, such as calcium, and promote soil alkalinization. Additionally, its dense biomass helps control weeds and prevent soil erosion. These underutilized characteristics warrant further investigation into its integration within sustainable agriculture. To this end, an agronomic trial was conducted in Daloa to assess the impact of C. odorata biomass on maize cultivation. Four treatments were tested in a Fisher block design: (i) C. odorata alone (Co), (ii) C. odorata with standard mineral fertilizer (CoNPK), (iii) standard mineral fertilizer alone (NPK), and (iv) a control with no treatment (T0). The results showed that the C. odorata alone treatment yielded the highest grain outputs, closely followed by the use of standard mineral fertilizer. In contrast, the control treatment produced the lowest yields, and the combination of C. odorata and mineral fertilizers resulted in yields lower than those from C. odorata alone. It is recommended to integrate C. odorata as a biofertilizer in sustainable agricultural systems due to its economic and ecological benefits. Further studies are required to define an optimal technical pathway for its use, assess its long-term effects on soils, and determine its potential to enhance crop profitability.

Ongoing soil degradation under cotton is a constant concern for farmers in cotton-growing basins. The aim of the study was to assess soil fertility under cotton in the Ouangolodougou production basin. To do this, soil sampling of the 0-15 cm horizon was carried out in the 15 sections that make up the Ouangolodougou production basin over four (4) successive cropping campaigns from 2017-2018 to 2019-2020. Chemical analyses of soil samples were carried out on the following parameters: exchangeable calcium (Ca2+), exchangeable magnesium (Mg2+), exchangeable potassium (K+) and Ammonical Nirogen N-NH4+. Results indicate that the levels of N-NH4+ and exchangeable bases (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+) are below the average threshold values over the 4 successive tracked campaigns. Also, results demonstrated a sectional basis effect of cotton cultivation on N-NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+.

The present study aimed to determine the variables that distinguish the hydromorphic soils (Gleysols) used in irrigated or flooded rice growing in the region of Bélier in Côte d'Ivoire and to explain the causes of their variability in order to better apprehend their use in a context of precision agriculture. To do this, a quantitative characterization of the physicochemical composition of these soils was carried out. Soil samples analyzed in the laboratory were collected at various locations in the study area on plots currently or formerly used in rice production. The analytical results of these samples were subjected to a principal component analysis that revealed four homogeneous subsets of soils. These subsets of soils were fundamentally distinct from one another by their silt, clay and organic contents which also emerged as their fertility determinants. Thus, the study will have shown the interest for the rice producers of the zone to carry out a preliminary analysis of the spatial variability of the soil parameters before any agricultural development of the soil.