Caractérisation des Systèmes de Cultures des Sites Maraîchers de Houéyiho, de Sèmè-Kpodji et de Grand-Popo au Sud-Bénin

Vegetable crops provide the required elements for the proper functioning of the organism. They play an important role in food security. The present study aims to characterize cultivation practices in urban and periurban market gardening production in South Benin. An exploratory study and an agricultural survey were conducted with 225 market gardeners. Sociodemographic and cultural practices data, were collected and subjected to descriptive analysis, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA) with regard to sources of watering water, and the protective measures used by farmers during chemical treatments. The study revealed that 13 different vegetables were grown by market gardeners in the study area. These vegetables were significantly dominated by Capsicum frutescens, Lycopersicum esculentum, Allium cepa, and Amarantethus hybridus in terms of cultivated area (P < 0.001). Vegetable production was intensive at all sites. The use of unregistered synthetic chemicals for pest control remained the most widely used control method. The number of chemical treatments performed on vegetables during their cycle was six. 70% of the interviewees at Houéyiho site and 58% of the interviewees at Sèmè-Kpodji site, combined at least two chemicals in each treatment. The practice of mineral fertilization was widely observed at all sites. The average dose of mineral fertilizers applied was 380.96 kg/ha for urea and 571.42 kg/ha for NPK. Les cultures maraîchères fournissent des éléments nécessaires au bon fonctionnement de l’organisme. Elles jouent un rôle important dans la sécurité alimentaire. La présente étude a pour but de caractériser les pratiques culturales en production maraichère urbaine et périurbaine au Sud-Bénin. Une étude exploratoire et une enquête agricole à l’aide d’un questionnaire ont été réalisées auprès de 225 maraîchers. Des informations collectées sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les pratiques culturales ont été soumises à une analyse descriptive, à une analyse de la variance (ANOVA) et à une Analyse Factorielle des Correspondances (AFC) simple en ce qui concerne les sources d’eau d’arrosage et les mesures de protection prises par les maraichers lors des traitements phytosanitaires. L’étude a révélé que 13 différents légumes sont cultivés par les maraîchers de la zone d’étude. Ces légumes sont significativement dominés par Capsicum frutescens, Lycopersicum esculentum, Allium cepa et Amarantethus hybridus en terme de superficie (P<0,001). La production des légumes est intensive sur l’ensemble des sites. Le recours aux pesticides de synthèse non homologués pour le contrôle des ravageurs reste la méthode de lutte la plus utilisée. Le nombre de traitements phytosanitaires effectués sur les légumes au cours de leur cycle est de six. 70 % des enquêtés du site de Houéyiho et 58 % des enquêtés de Sèmè-Kpodji combinent au moins deux produits phytosanitaires lors de chaque traitement. La pratique de la fertilisation minérale est très observée sur l’ensemble des sites. La dose moyenne d’engrais minéraux appliquée aux cultuures maraîchères est de 380,96kg/ha pour l’urée et 571,42 kg/ha pour le NPK

Inoculation of Pseudomonas putida in Farmer Environment to Improve Growth and Yield: Maize (Zea mays L.) Trial in Sothern, Central and Northern (Benin)

The application of Plant Growth Promoting rhizobacteria as a microbial bio-fertilizers to increase soil fertility and productivity, allows a rational use of chemical fertilizers which makes agriculture sustainable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the rhizobacteria Pseudomonas putida on the maize productivity in farmer environment. For this purpose, trials were conducted in two Agricultural Development Poles with nine (09) producers equitably distributed in Southern, Central and Northern Benin. The experimental design was a completely randomized block of three (03) treatments (T1: farmer practice; T2: P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea; T3: recommended dose of NPK and Urea) with three (03) repetitions. During sowing, two (2) maize seeds of the 2000 SYNEE-W variety were introduced into a pot and inoculated with 10 ml of bacterial suspensions of 108 CFU/ml concentration. The results showed that the best heights, stem diameters and leaf areas of maize plants were obtained with P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea with the nine (09) producers of the three (03) areas with respective increases of 14.76%; 18.08% and 26.56% compared to the farmer practice. In addition, the results related to yield parameters such as aerial biomass, underground biomass and maize grain yield were better improved with the P. putida + ½ recommended dose of NPK and Urea. The average rates of increase recorded were 42.70%, 38.96% and 77.69%, respectively, compared to farmer practice. In sum, this rhizobacteria can be used as the microbial bio-fertilizers to improve maize productivity in Benin