Integrated Soil Fertility Management: A Promising Pathway for Sustainable Intensification of Smallholder Cotton Farming Systems in Côte d’Ivoire

Aims: This study was aimed to increase the sustainability of smallholder cotton cultivation in Côte d’Ivoire, through the implementation of Integrated Soil Fertility Management, combining the use of moderate amounts of mineral fertilizer and fortified organic manure. Study Design: The experiment was set up in a Fisher block design, with four treatments and three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The trials were conducted in four locations across two largest cotton growing areas (Odienne and Minignan) in the northern agro-ecological zone, between March and September 2021. Methodology: The technical options included: 1) mineral fertilizer (25 kg NPK ha-1 + 12.5 kg urea ha-1) + 0 kg manure ha-1 (control), 2) mineral fertilizer + 50 kg manure ha-1, 3) mineral fertilizer + 75 kg manure ha-1 and 4) local practice (200 kg NPK ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1 + 0 kg manure ha-1). Results: The results showed an increase in seed cotton yield for the manure treatments compared to the control treatment. Non-significant yield difference was found between the manure treatments and local practice. The average yields obtained in Odienne were 5.73 ± 0.70 t ha-1 for 75 kg manure ha-1 and 5.13 ± 0.96 for 50 kg manure ha-1, versus 2.58 ± 0.76 t ha-1 for the control treatment. In Minignan, the average yields obtained were 6.86 ± 1.76 t ha-1 for 75 kg manure ha-1 and 5.73 ± 0.70 t ha-1 for 50 kg manure ha-1, versus 2.58 ± 0.76 t ha-1 for the control. The Agronomic Efficiency of applied manure varied from 37.00 ± 13.07 to 73.41 ± 16.89 kg cotton kg-1 and from 44.34 ± 15.05   to 1 for the two agro-ecological zones. Conclusion: The Integrated Soil Fertility Management system was proven to be a promising pathway for achieving sustainable intensification of smallholder cotton cultivation systems.