Nutritional Status of Soils Under Cassava Cultivation Using the Diagnosis and Recommendation System (DRIS) in the Savanna Zone of the Central African Republic
Abstract
Cassava is an important crop that ensures food security for the population in the Central African Republic (CAR). It also significantly contributes to improving farmers' incomes. Unfortunately, there is no specific data on soil nutrient status that would allow for informed management of the crop’s nutritional condition and yield improvement, despite existing potential. The Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) is an approach used to interpret plant tissue analysis results and helps assess the nutritional status of crops. It focuses on comparing paired nutrient ratios and concentrations of nutrients in leaf tissues with norms developed from high-yielding crop populations. The objective of this study is to apply the DRIS model to determine the nutritional status of cassava cropping systems in the savanna forest zone of CAR. In total, 126 leaf samples were collected from cassava fields in the region. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Zinc (Zn) contents were analyzed. Root yields were also recorded. Significant differences (p = 0.001) were observed between the root yields of the low and high-yielding sub-populations. Based on the Nutritional Balance Index, nutrient requirements for cassava in this savanna zone were ranked as: Ca > Mg > N > K > P > Zn. The study recommends the implementation of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) technologies in cassava cultivation systems in each zone, with emphasis on Nitrogen and Calcium supplementation.
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