Growing Curcuma longa for Rhizome Production on Diverse Arable Soil Types in Cameroon: Agronomic and Microbial Parameters

The aim of this work is to assess soil types’ effect on the growth and production of Curcuma longa rhizomes. The Rhizome of Curcuma longa was grown in a greenhouse in pots for seven months on different soil types. Physico-chemical analyses of the different soils were carried out. Collar diameter, the height of the plants, and yield of rhizome were measured. Total microbial density, number of spores, and root colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from these soils were assessed. Results show that soils are sandy clay loam, clay sandy, clay, acidic (pH 4.16 to 6.62), and have a C/N ratio from 6.10 to 19.83. Nitrogen (N) is between 0.49 to 2.41 g/kg, available phosphorus (P) between 2 to 16 ppm, Organic matter (OM) from 14.6 to 51.4 g/kg. Total microbial density is between 2 to 16 × 106 Cell/mm3, number of AMF spores in situ between 4 to 67 spores/g of soil. The frequency of root colonization is between 47% to 78%. The average growth and rhizome production are between 5 to 15 g/plant. All the results obtained show that the soils with clay to sandy clayey loam texture, medium acidity (pH 5.5 - 6.6), low C content (7.3 - 9.6 g/kg), low N content (0.49 - 1.13 g/kg), good C/N ratio (Curcuma longa in Cameroon.