Effects of Stone Barriers on Soil Physicochemical Characteristics under Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Cropping Fields Northern of Côte d’Ivoire

In the north of Cote d’Ivoire, the rural economy is heavily dependent on cotton cultivation which is characterized by low yield. One of the main causes of low productivity is low level of soil fertility caused by erosion. The stone barriers technique is used to fight against erosion and to improve soil fertility. This work was carried out to assess the effects during 1-year-old stone barriers on selected soil physicochemical properties on two geographical locations where soil samples from 0 to 30 cm depth were selected. A total of 60 composite soil samples (30 × 2) were collected. One year after installing the stone bunds in cotton cultivation, the soil was sampled under the same conditions. The soil samples were analyzed for pH (H2O), organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av.P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchange bases (Ca, K, Mg, Na) and particle size (clay, coarse silt and sand) contents. The results show that the stone bunds significantly increased the water pH, the soil levels of calcium, magnesium, silt and coarse sand. On the other hand, they significantly lowered the levels of assimilable phosphorus, clay and fine sand in soils. CEC and soil carbon, nitrogen, potassium, sodium and fine silt content did not vary significantly. This study must be repeated in the years to come in order to determine the impact of stone barriers in the medium and long term on soil fertility in the north of Cote d’Ivoire.