Contribution à l’amélioration des pratiques paysannes de production durable de coton (Gossypium hirsutum) au Bénin : cas de la commune de Banikoara

L’étude des pratiques paysannes de production durable de coton a été réalisée dans la commune de Banikoara plus précisément dans les arrondissements de Founougo et de Gomparou. L’objectif de l’étude est de recenser les pratiques paysannes, d’en faire une analyse comparée avec les méthodes de production durable de coton recommandées au Bénin et ailleurs. Pour atteindre les objectifs, les méthodes utilisées ont été l’interview structurée pour les producteurs et l’interview semi-structurée pour le personnel de l’encadrement technique du Secteur Communal de Développement Agricole de Banikoara (SCDA/Banikoara). Au total l’échantillonnage d’enquête a concerné 70 producteurs de coton et 06 agents d’encadrement technique. Les résultats révèlent des pratiques de production extensives basées sur l’extension effrénée des superficies emblavées pour des rendements qui demeurent toujours faibles. Cette méthode impacte négativement les réserve forestières de la localité. Pour les labours, La plupart des producteurs de coton (57,14%) font le billonnage direct contre 25,71% de producteurs pour le labour à plat recommandé. Les changements climatiques caractérisés par l’instabilité des pluies influence dangereusement les dates de semis. 52,85% des producteurs font les semis tardifs. Les écartements de semis ne sont respectés que sur les labours à plat. La plupart des producteurs (81,42%) pratique les écartements inférieurs ou supérieurs à celles recommandées (30 cm x 80 cm). Malgré la pauvreté avancée des sols, peu sont les producteurs qui font usages d’engrais organiques (30%). La fertilisation minérale est pratiquée par tous les producteurs. Seulement les dates, périodes et doses d’épandage des engrais ne sont pas souvent respectées par les producteurs. Bien que respecté par tous, un nombre non négligeable de producteurs (32,8%) applique des nombres de traitement inférieurs ou supérieurs à six (6) scientifiquement recommandés. La monoculture du coton est pratiquée par la plupart des producteurs (98,57%). La variété cultivée (H279-1) est certifiée mais ne donne pas des rendements à la hauteur de ses potentialités. L’usage abusif des herbicides est un phénomène généralisé dans la zone pour le désherbage des parcelles cotonnières.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Culture du coton, pratiques paysannes, analyse comparée, productivité, commune de BanikoaraEnglish Title:  Contribution to the improvement of farmers' practices for sustainable production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in Benin: case of Banikoara municipalityEnglish AbstractThe survey of farmers’ practices for sustainable production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) has been achieved more precisely in the township of Banikoara in the districts of Founougo and Gomparou. The objective of the survey is to count the farmers’ practices, to make a compared analysis with the methods of sustainable cotton production recommended in Benin. To reach the objectives, the structured interview for the producers and the semi-structured interview methods for the staff of the technical framing of the Local Sector of Agricultural Development of Banikoara (SCDA/Banikoara) have been used. A total of 70 cotton producers and 06 agents of technical framing were concerned for the sampling. The results reveal extensive practices of production based on the wild extension of cultivated territories for outputs that always remain weak. This method negatively impacts on forest reserves of the locality. For the ploughings, most cotton producers (57.14%) make the direct ridging against 25.71% of producers for the recommended flatbed ploughing. The climate changes characterized by the instability of the rains relatively influence the dates of seedling. 52.85% of the producers make the belated seedlings. The spacing of seedling is only respected on the flat ploughing. Most producers (81.42%) observe the spacing lower or superior to those recommended (30 x cm 80 cm). In spite of the advanced poverty of soils, are little the producers who use organic fertilizer (30%). The mineral fertilization is practised by all the producers but the dates, periods and doses of spreading of manures are not often respected. Although respected by all, some cotton producers (32.8%) apply the numbers of treatment lower or superior to six (6) as, scientifically recommended. Monoculture of cotton is practised by most producers (98.57%). The cultivated variety (H279-1) is certified but does not give the outputs in the height of its potentialities. The abusive use of the herbicides is a generalized phenomenon in the zone for the weeding of the cotton parcels.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Cotton culture; farmers’ practices; compared analysis, productivity of Banikoara’s townshi

Phenotypic Evaluation of Mother Trees and their Effects on Seed Emergence and Growth Dynamics of African Locust Bean Seedlings in Nursery

This study was carried out in order to identify the most productive in term of seeds between African locust bean trees aged 10-29 years, 30-50 years and 51 years and older. It aims also to identify which one can guarantee better emergence and growth of young P.B seedlings in the nursery. These plants were chosen according to the availability of fruit and their accessibility. For the emergence and growth tests, a complete randomized block design with three replicates, each with three treatments was installed. The SPSS v21 software was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level of 5%.The results show that the dendrometry and productivity parameters are better when the plants are at least 30 years old (DBH > 44 cm). Indeed, seeds from trees aged 30 - 50 years significantly improved seed emergence by giving a rate of 70.33%±7.23. Plants growth was not significantly affected by trees age

Reactions of cashew grafted seedlings to different formulas of mineral and organic fertilizers as bottom dressing in plantation

The yield of raw cashew nuts in Benin remains relatively low, mainly because of the planting material used by farmers. Indeed, cashew tree producers use the nuts all-from previous years for the installation of plantations. The use of grafted seedlings is today an alternative, to improve the yield of new plantations. However, grafted plants are fragile and don’t survive easily the dry season of the year in which they are planted, with a high mortality rate due to their fragility. This research conducted on tropical ferruginous soils in Central Benin aims to evaluate the reaction of grafted cashew seedlings to different formulas of mineral and organic fertilizers applied as bottom fertilization. For the study, a Randomized Complete Block Design with three repetitions was installed. Each repetition consists of 11 treatments. The generalized linear model (glm) was used to perform the analysis of variance with SPSS v21 software which to compare the effects of the treatments. The organo-mineral formulas N40P80K72 + 2 kg of poultry droppings and N40P80 + 2 kg of poultry droppings applied as bottom manure allowed for better results in terms of recovery and growth parameters of grafted plants installed in the field. These fertilizer formulas allowed the grafted cashew plants to survive 85% and 80% respectively after installation. They also improved height growth, vigor and the ability to emit many leaves. To reduce the mortality rate of cashew transplants, these fertilizer formulas can be suggested to growers for the establishment of new plantations