Effect of a Compost Formulation Based on Agricultural Residues (Coffee Husks and Rice Straw) on Soil Chemical Quality and Agronomic Performance of Rain-fed Rice in Vavoua, Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Background: Food self-sufficiency is a real challenge for Côte d'Ivoire today, with national decreasing of rice production for population's needs. This production deficit is attributed not only to the use of unsuitable and unproductive varieties, but also and above all to the infertility of rice-growing land. Aims: This study aims to improve rice production in Vavoua through the use of organic fertilisation in a context of sustainable organic farming. Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in the field in 2024 in the village of Mignoré, in the sub-prefecture of Séitifia and in the department of Vavoua, in central-western Côte d'Ivoire, by the agropedology research team at Jean Lorougnon Guédé University in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire. Methodology: three formulations (C1, C2 and C3) of composts were developed based on coffee husks and rice straw in different proportions. The formulations were for compost C1 (100% rice straw), C2 (50% rice straw + 50% coffee husks) and C3 (100% coffee husks). These different composts were applied as an organic amendment at a rate of 40 t/ha to two varieties of local rainfed rice, “Akadi” and the improved “C26”, in two applications (basal and top dressing) in a randomised Fisher block design with three replicates. The parameters collected were height, number of tillers, number of panicles and yield. Results: the experiment showed that C2 compost had the best physicochemical characteristics compared to the other two and most improved the agronomic performance of the rice. The C26 rice variety stood out by achieving the highest yield. Conclusion: C2 compost in the formulation (50% coffee husks and 50% rice straw) can be recommended as a good substitute for mineral fertilisers in the ecosystem of our study.