DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2019.v07i04.006

Pages: 205–219

This study aimed at characterising hydromorphic soils under F. stipulosa in Cameroon. A representative soil profile of its realized niche was excavated, and soil samples collected for selected physicochemical analysis following standard procedures. The profile was clay loamed at the surface and clayey at the subsurface due to a high content in mineralogical clays. Bulk density (BD) was low in surface and high in-depth, while total porosity had an opposite trend. These soils were generally acidic to slightly acidic, with low pH-values subjecting the soil to exchangeable acidity (EA). Organic matter (OM) content was quite satisfactory, though the alternating wet/dry conditions hindered mineralization. For these reasons, organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) stocks were more or less important in some horizons depending on their susceptibility to waterlogging. Phosphorus content was high to moderate in the surface and low at the subsurface. Cationic exchange capacity (CEC7) rated high, accounting for good potentiality of these soils in terms of fertility. The latter was principally due to smectitic clay minerals as evidenced by the high values of CEC-Clay along the profile. However, mineral fertility was poor as the complex had few nutrients thanks to low pH values that qualified the profile for having an effective CEC (ECEC). The latter were low however and decreased with depth, together with related characteristics such as total exchangeable bases (TEB) and base saturation at ECEC (BS-CECE), thus requiring adequate measures in order to improve the soil’s effective holding capacity for nutrients and its sustainability.