TITLE:
Optimizing Soil Fertility in the Chari-Logone Basin (Chad Republic): The Role of Nitrates, Phosphates, Sulfates, and Major Cations
AUTHORS:
Mallet II Guedna, Nekoulnang Djetounako Clarisse, Tekoum Leontine
KEYWORDS:
Optimization, Environment, Soils, Chari-Logone Basin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: Alluvial deposits from the Chari-Logone basin play a fundamental role in the natural fertilization of soils and agricultural productivity in the region. Indeed, annual floods deposit sediments rich in essential nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates, as well as major cations such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and aluminum (Al3+). These deposits directly contribute to improving the chemical fertility of farmland and market gardens located along the river and its tributaries. As part of this study, 48 sediment samples were collected from various sites in the Chari-Logone Basin and analyzed in the LABEN (Laboratory of Water and Natural Substances at the University of N’Djamena) using a HACH DR2400 spectrometer. The results show significant spatial variability in nutrient concentrations. Nitrate concentrations ranged from 0 to 295 mg/L, phosphate concentrations from 0.35 to 5.8 mg/L, and sulfate concentrations from 6.6 to 270 mg/L. For cations, the values recorded range from 0.01 to 9.56 mg/L for calcium, 0.20 to 4.96 mg/L for magnesium, and 0.10 to 4.61 mg/L for aluminum. Analysis of average Fe/Al ratios reveals the presence of young, ferralitic, and ferruginous soils that are particularly well-developed in areas downstream of N’Djamena. In light of these results, it appears essential to promote integrated and sustainable management of the basin’s water and soil resources. This management must balance the needs of agriculture and market gardening with environmental conservation. This involves optimizing nutrient use, applying targeted soil amendments, implementing crop rotation, improving water management, and taking measures to combat erosion. This agroecological approach aims to enhance the sustainability and resilience of production systems in the Chari-Logone basin.