Impact of Compost-amended Substrates on the Rooting of Irvingia gabonensis Cuttings in a Nursery on the Outskirts of Taï National Park, Ivory Coast

Abstract

Human activities in the vicinity of Taï National Park are worsening the decline of Irvingia gabonensis, a species heavily exploited by local communities, as well as the degradation of forest habitats. The long-term availability of the species is threatened by the growing strain on natural stands, which supports the use of technical domestication. However, the challenge of quickly obtaining robust seedlings continues to limit seedling production. Because they enable the production of uniform plants in a comparatively short amount of time, cuttings thus present a pertinent option. However, nursery conditions and, most importantly, the type of substrate used have a significant impact on cutting success. In considering this, three distinct compost formulations (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6) were added to two types of soil (soil gathered both inside and outside the park). Cuttings cultivated on compost-enriched Park soil (T1, T2, and T3) had the highest success rates, at 87%, 60%, and 80%, respectively. The cuttings planted on compost-enriched soil from outside the park (T4, T5, and T6) had the lowest recovery rates, at 47%, 13%, and 27%, respectively. The control substrates showed no signs of regrowth. According to this study, propagation by cuttings on substrates enhanced with compost is a viable method for Irvingia gabonensis to be valued on a large scale.