Future of Food: Journal on Food

Impacts of Calcium and Magnesium Amendment on Soil Macrofauna Under Cocoa Trees in the South-West and Central- South of Ivory Coast

Toussegoué Anicet Gbeuli
1University Jean-Lorougnon Guédé Daloa (UJLoG), Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Address: 150 Daloa. National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Divo Station, Cocoa Program, Address: 808 Divo
Acka Jacques Alain Kotaix
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Divo Station, Cocoa Program, Address: 808 Divo
Zoumana Konate
University Jean-Lorougnon Guédé Daloa (UJLoG), Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Address: 150 Daloa
Koffi Hypolith Kouadio
University Jean-Lorougnon Guédé Daloa (UJLoG), Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Address: 150 Daloa
Kouakou Stanislas Koffi
University Jean-Lorougnon Guédé Daloa (UJLoG), Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Address: 150 Daloa. National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Divo Station, Cocoa Program, Address: 808 Divo
Gnion Mathias Tahi
Council for the Regulation, Stabilization and Development of the Coffee-Cocoa Sector, 04 Address 2576 Abidjan
Sidiky Bakayoko
University Jean-Lorougnon Guédé Daloa (UJLoG), Agroforestry Training and Research Unit, Address: 150 Daloa
Aïdara Sekou
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Divo Station, Cocoa Program, Address: 808 Divo

The production of cocoa in Ivory Coast faces major challenges, particularly soil acidification, which leads to a significant decrease in yields. To reduce soil acidity under cocoa trees in order to maintain cocoa production, a study was conducted to test the effect of a mineral amendment containing calcium and magnesium (TerraCalco) in two agroecological zones (South-West and Central-South) of cocoa production in Ivory Coast. The study was carried out according to a split-split plot experimental design with 4 repetitions taking into account three factors; the first factor is the region represented by 2 levels (South-West and Centre-South), the second by soil depth with 3 levels, and the third factor, by the formulation of the input with 6 levels representing treatments T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5.  The results obtained showed that the localities of Méagui (South-West) and Guitry (Central-South) have the highest densities of macrofauna with the highest density of earthworms (20.67±2.65 individuals/m²) and termites (30.83±4.65 individuals/m²) at Méagui. The locality of Guitry exhibits the highest densities of ants (8.25±2.17 individuals/m²), beetles (5.22±2.10 individuals/m²), and myriapods (42.68±11.03 individuals/m²). The 0-10 cm depth contains the highest density of macrofauna per m², consisting mainly of earthworms (28.48±2.55), ants (12.81±1.82), termites (36.12±3.58), beetles (6.55±1.55), and myriapods (43.00±8.30). Treatment T5 achieved the highest densities per m² for all macrofauna groups, namely earthworms (17.69±3.81), ants (14.02±3.43), termites (24.42±5.63), beetles (7.71±3.10), and myriapods (40.79±19.10). In contrast, the control treatment T0 (without amendment) had the lowest densities for all the macrofauna groups, namely earthworms (17.69±3.81), ants (14.02±3.43), termites (24.42±5.63), beetles (7.71±3.10), and myriapods (40.79±19.10). In contrast, the control treatment T0 (without amendment) had the lowest densities for all the studied macrofauna groups.

Keywords : Soil acidity, calcium and magnesium amendment, cocoa tree, macrofauna, NPK, Ivory Coast ,CENTRE NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE DE DIVO ,CARMEUSE-OVERSEAS .
Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
Mark Speckien
Louisiana Tech University
International students are more likely to experience mental health issues and increased stress. Mental health is often surrounded by negative societal stigmas that act as barriers to seeking support and tend to lead to greater mental health concerns. International students tend to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers rather than seeking out counseling services. However, this study shows that LGBTQIA+ international students were less likely to seek socioemotional support from other international student peers due to fear of their sexual orientation being discovered and their families finding out about their identity. This study examines how LGBTQIA+ international students talk about their experiences on and off campus in relations to their socioemotional well-being. Specifically, this study sought to better understand the complexities of LGBTQIA+ students’ identities, and the challenges they faced in terms of their socioemotional well-being. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Keywords : international students, socioemotional well-being, mental health, identity development, intersectionality, LGBTQIA