TITLE:
Assessment of Tractor Power Variation on Soil Properties under Maize Cultivation in Nkwadi Agricultural Volunteerism Program/Kasai Oriental Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Willy Léon Mutombo Kabuya, Louis Longanza Baboy, Aimé Fwabana Tshibanda, Amand Kankolongo Mbuya, Georges Mupala Muyayabantu
KEYWORDS:
Agricultural Tractors, Agricultural Mechanization, Power Level, Soil Properties, Corn Production
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
23,
2026
ABSTRACT: In tropical regions, reconciling agricultural intensification and protection of soil properties for sustainable agricultural productivity is a major challenge in the context of agricultural tractors becoming heavier and more powerful. As part of the Agricultural Volunteer Program in Nkwadi, Kasai Oriental Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), JOHN DERRE tractors of 215, 120 and 75 hp are used in the intensive production of maize, starting with tillage. This study compares soil chemical, physical, and organic-matter indicators before and after two maize-growing seasons managed with 75, 120, and 215 hp tractors in Nkwadi, DRC. The results of this research show that chemically, the acidity of the soil before the first pass and after the second pass remained high with some stability under the 75 and 120 hp tractors after the second pass. The macroelements except
NO
3
−
under the 75 hp tractor experienced a decrease in the soil. However, the organic matter content has been increased under the effect of all the tractor power; effect due to the burial of maize debris after harvests of the order of 41.83% under the 215 hp, 170.69% under the 120 hp and 227.08% under the 75 hp. As far as physical parameters are concerned, the general trend shows changes in texture according to the power levels of tractors and according to the depth of ploughing of the soil. With the different contents of organic matter associated with the different silt contents under different levels of tractor power, modifications are observed in the structural stability by the beating indices and the M.O/clay ratio. The higher tractor power is associated with stronger acidification, nutrient changes, lower structural stability, and greater soil degradation. It appears that the 75 hp tractor is the most suitable option for shallow soil operations at the site.