Enhancing soil aggregate stability and productivity in mature cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) -plantain (Musa spp) agroforest using legume-grass cover crops on acid ferralsols in Cameroon

Enhancing soil aggregate stability and productivity in mature cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) -plantain (Musa spp) agroforest using legume-grass cover crops on acid ferralsols in Cameroon | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancing soil aggregate stability and productivity in mature cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) -plantain (Musa spp) agroforest using legume-grass cover crops on acid ferralsols in Cameroon Parfait Alexis ZOA, Fotso Fotso, Pierre François Djocgoue, Paulin Nana This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Acid ferralitic soils in Cameroon exhibit low fertility and advanced degradation, hindering productivity and sustainability in mature cocoa-banana agroforestry systems. A study conducted from 2023 to 2025 aimed at promoting resilient, sustainable farming practices. Experimental split-plot designs with three replicates compared six treatments (Brachiaria humidicola L.+ Pueraria phaseoloides L.(B+P), Brachiaria humidicola L.+ Mucuna pruriens L. (B+M), Pueraria phaseoloides L.+ Calopogonium mucunoides L. (P+C), Stylosanthes guianensis L. + Desmodium intortum L. (S+D), Mucuna pruriens L. + Stylosanthes guianensis L. (M+S), and Desmodium intortum L. + Calopogonium mucunoides L.(D+C)) in two agro-ecological zones (Zone 4: Bokito and Zone 5: Kumba). Cover establishment occurred in 2023, with monthly monitoring of aboveground and root biomass production, ¹⁵N isotopic quantification of biological nitrogen fixation, semi-annual soil sampling (0–20 cm) for physico-chemical properties, commercial yield assessments for cocoa and plantain, erosion loss estimates, root-knot nematode counts (Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus spp.), and precise glyphosate consumption tracking. Results showed marked improvements across all parameters with the B+P association, yielding 13.9-15.1 t dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ aboveground biomass and 5.2-6.8 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ root biomass, fixing an average of 251 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, increasing organic matter by 23%, raising pH by 0.5 units, and enhancing cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 32% after 24 months. These pedological gains translated to 31% higher cocoa yields (2.51 t ha⁻¹ vs. 1.99 t ha⁻¹ in controls) and 27% higher plantain yields (29.3 t ha⁻¹ vs. 23.6 t ha⁻¹). Additional benefits included 87% reduced water erosion, 96% lower glyphosate use (near-elimination), and 61% fewer root-lesion nematodes. Economic viability analysis indicated investment recovery by the second year via yield premiums. The B+P association emerges as the most effective and rapidly profitable practice for ecologically intensifying cocoa-banana agroforests in Cameroon. Future steps include long-term durability assessments under extreme climate scenarios, carbon sequestration and biodiversity quantification, and scaled dissemination via demonstration platforms and farmer agroecology training. biological nitrogen fixation cover legume agroforestry soil fertility restauration Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 04 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 03 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 02 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 01 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9001649","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":600526291,"identity":"7bb04854-cc89-4a80-bb8e-0f32ec7d81e1","order_by":0,"name":"Parfait Alexis ZOA","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/klEQVRIie3PMUvDQBTA8XccPJdr5isn3uZ8Z6EiWvpVDAFd2tm1ELgsp7NO/RaZHC4UnPwGt8Slk0O6SJUMTVzEoUlHwfsPjze83/AAQqG/2wkg0KKsmhWPDiMjQMREP7aEHkoA2alg7d5HZJauy89nJSNpUVx95TKiQKrNbD8h9uVc27XSBgery/mD14YCHT7l+wnl12POXE0MRrGfW08agnTQQZDffgxrp6YGmRIX1k97CeOzsWBOxQ05E7D1cS/h7PVudOxUYvAm0fcLnxhK0s5fZJblb+9OTZbpqii3tZ8ss7SoNh2kfednJeZ7LjrvfxOo+45DoVDoP7YDLDdKD0S/C5YAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ebolowa","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Parfait","middleName":"Alexis","lastName":"ZOA","suffix":""},{"id":600526292,"identity":"f89dea6b-f2ba-4761-a7cd-0df588817859","order_by":1,"name":"Fotso Fotso","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fotso","middleName":"","lastName":"Fotso","suffix":""},{"id":600526293,"identity":"67ffa2b7-d8f1-47ef-9208-fba732f52922","order_by":2,"name":"Pierre François Djocgoue","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Pierre","middleName":"François","lastName":"Djocgoue","suffix":""},{"id":600526295,"identity":"23e17b7d-03d5-4689-9fcf-b60f201351be","order_by":3,"name":"Paulin Nana","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Ebolowa","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Paulin","middleName":"","lastName":"Nana","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-01 13:08:35","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105565312,"identity":"027fa9ff-700e-41db-b90c-c3e6c2de9e92","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 12:52:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":642479,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ArticleN1Forsubmission010232.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9001649/v1_covered_507b16b3-758f-465c-8197-493138da2c6d.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Enhancing soil aggregate stability and productivity in mature cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) -plantain (Musa spp) agroforest using legume-grass cover crops on acid ferralsols in Cameroon","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"agroforestry-systems","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"agfo","sideBox":"Learn more about [Agroforestry Systems](http://link.springer.com/journal/10457)","snPcode":"10457","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10457/3","title":"Agroforestry Systems","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"biological nitrogen fixation, cover legume, agroforestry, soil fertility restauration","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Acid ferralitic soils in Cameroon exhibit low fertility and advanced degradation, hindering productivity and sustainability in mature cocoa-banana agroforestry systems. A study conducted from 2023 to 2025 aimed at promoting resilient, sustainable farming practices. Experimental split-plot designs with three replicates compared six treatments (Brachiaria humidicola L.+ Pueraria phaseoloides L.(B+P), Brachiaria humidicola L.+ Mucuna pruriens L. (B+M), Pueraria phaseoloides L.+ Calopogonium mucunoides L. (P+C), Stylosanthes guianensis L. + Desmodium intortum L. (S+D), Mucuna pruriens L. + Stylosanthes guianensis L. (M+S), and Desmodium intortum L. + Calopogonium mucunoides L.(D+C)) in two agro-ecological zones (Zone 4: Bokito and Zone 5: Kumba). Cover establishment occurred in 2023, with monthly monitoring of aboveground and root biomass production, ¹⁵N isotopic quantification of biological nitrogen fixation, semi-annual soil sampling (0–20 cm) for physico-chemical properties, commercial yield assessments for cocoa and plantain, erosion loss estimates, root-knot nematode counts (Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus spp.), and precise glyphosate consumption tracking. Results showed marked improvements across all parameters with the B+P association, yielding 13.9-15.1 t dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ aboveground biomass and 5.2-6.8 t DM ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ root biomass, fixing an average of 251 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, increasing organic matter by 23%, raising pH by 0.5 units, and enhancing cation exchange capacity (CEC) by 32% after 24 months. These pedological gains translated to 31% higher cocoa yields (2.51 t ha⁻¹ vs. 1.99 t ha⁻¹ in controls) and 27% higher plantain yields (29.3 t ha⁻¹ vs. 23.6 t ha⁻¹). Additional benefits included 87% reduced water erosion, 96% lower glyphosate use (near-elimination), and 61% fewer root-lesion nematodes. Economic viability analysis indicated investment recovery by the second year via yield premiums. The B+P association emerges as the most effective and rapidly profitable practice for ecologically intensifying cocoa-banana agroforests in Cameroon. Future steps include long-term durability assessments under extreme climate scenarios, carbon sequestration and biodiversity quantification, and scaled dissemination via demonstration platforms and farmer agroecology training.","manuscriptTitle":"Enhancing soil aggregate stability and productivity in mature cocoa ( Theobroma cacao L.) -plantain (Musa spp) agroforest using legume-grass cover crops on acid ferralsols in Cameroon","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-25 03:34:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9001649/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2026-03-04T09:55:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-03-03T11:02:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-03-03T01:55:12+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Agroforestry Systems","date":"2026-03-01T12:53:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"agroforestry-systems","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"agfo","sideBox":"Learn more about [Agroforestry Systems](http://link.springer.com/journal/10457)","snPcode":"10457","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/10457/3","title":"Agroforestry Systems","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"87932640-2e40-4218-802c-ff45d08cec3b","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 25th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-18T08:08:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-25 03:34:33","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9001649","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9001649","identity":"rs-9001649","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}