Soil Degradation under Culture of Palm Oil Tree in the South of Ivory Cost

摘要

In order to measure the impact of planting on the ground, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the evolution of particle size, chemical and physicochemical properties of soil during two consecutive cycles of cultivation of palm oil trees. The condition of soil under palm grove was compared to a control taken under natural forest. After 25 years of growing in the second generation, soil samples were collected in two areas. Samples were taken: one in the 0-20 cm layer and the other in the in the 40-60 cm layer. All samples were analyzed in a soil science laboratory. The results revealed a degradation of the physical, chemical and physicochemical characteristics of the soil. Planting palm oil trees resulted in the impoverishment of the soil in fine elements and a decline of the content in easily absorbed phosphorous. The cation exchange capacity and the content in organic matter was reduced while the content of exchangeable aluminum quadrupled.