<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">OJSS</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Open Journal of Soil Science</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2162-5360</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/ojss.2024.141005</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">OJSS-130689</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Calcium-Magnesium Ca/Mg Ratios and Their Agronomic Implications for the Optimization of Phosphate Fertilization in Rainfed Rice Farming on Acidic Ferralsol in the Forest Zone of Ivory Coast
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Fernand</surname><given-names>G. Yao</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Brahima</surname><given-names>Kone</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Franck</surname><given-names>M. L. Bahan</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"><sup>3</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Kouadio</surname><given-names>Amani</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Jean</surname><given-names>L. Essehi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Mamadou</surname><given-names>B. Ouattara</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"><sup>4</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Konan</surname><given-names>E. B. Dibi</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff5"><sup>5</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Brou</surname><given-names>Kouame</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>François</surname><given-names>Lompo</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff6"><sup>6</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Albert</surname><given-names>Yao-Kouame</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Soil, Water and Geomaterials Sciences Laboratory (LS2EG), Cocody-Abidjan, Earth Sciences and Mining Resources Training and Research Unit (UFR STRM), Félix Houphou&amp;amp;#235;t-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff6"><addr-line>Institute of the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Central Laboratory, Soils, Water and Plants (LCSEP), National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Bouaké, Ivory Coast</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff4"><addr-line>Department of Geography, Unit of Training and Research (UFR) Communication, Environment and Society, University Alassane Ouattara, Bouaké, Ivory Coast</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff5"><addr-line>Food Crops Research Station (SRCV), National Agricultural Research Center (CNRA), Bouaké, Ivory Coast</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff3"><addr-line>Department of Rice Program, Man Research Station, National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), Man, Ivory Coast</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>12</day><month>01</month><year>2024</year></pub-date><volume>14</volume><issue>01</issue><fpage>81</fpage><lpage>96</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>20,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2023</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>3,</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2023</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>24,</day>	<month>January</month>	<year>2024</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  This study is a contribution to improving rice productivity on acidic plateau soils of the tropical rainforest zone. It is based on taking into account the cationic balances of the soil in order to optimize the phosphorus (P) nutrition of rice on these acidic soils, where this nutrient constitutes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Three (3) pot trials were conducted in Adiopodoum&#233; in the forested south of C&amp;#244;te d’Ivoire. The interactive effects of calcium carbonate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg Ca ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>) and magnesium sulfate (0, 25, 50 and 75 kg Mg ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>) were evaluated on the response of NERICA 5 rice at doses 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg P ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup> of natural phosphate from Togo, applied only once at the start of the experiment. Additional fertilizers of nitrogen (N) (100 kg N ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>) and potassium (K) (50 kg KCl ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>) were added to each of the tests in a split-plot device. The test results revealed a paddy production potential of approximately 3 to 5 t&amp;#8901;ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup> for NERICA 5 on an acidic soil, under the effect of the interaction of P, Ca and Mg. The quadratic response of rice yield to the doses of these fertilizers would be more dependent on their balance, itself influenced by Ca nutrition. For the sustainability and maintenance of rice production in agro-ecology studied, it was recommended doses of 38 kg Ca ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>, 34 kg Mg ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup> in a Ca/Mg ratio (1/1) with intakes of 41 kg P ha<sup>&amp;minus;1</sup>, overall in a ratio 1/1/1 (P/Ca/Mg) more favorable to the availability of free iron considered a guiding element of mineral nutrition. Thus, these promising results should be confirmed in a real environment for better management of the fertilization of rice cultivated on acidic plateau soils in C&amp;#244;te d’Ivoire.
  
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Soil Acidity</kwd><kwd> Ca/Mg Ratios</kwd><kwd> Phosphate Fertilization</kwd><kwd> Rice Growing</kwd><kwd> Ivory Coast</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>Rice constitutes the basis of the diet in Ivory Coast. Its production was estimated at 1,713,589 tonnes of paddy in 2022 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref1">1</xref>] . Almost all of this production is mainly ensured by rainfed rice cultivation, practiced almost 70% on plateau and on acidic soils [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref3">3</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref4">4</xref>] . Crop systems are traditionally practiced on Ferrallitic soils highly desaturated in bases (hyperdystric Ferralsol) which have an acidity (pH &lt; 5.5) favorable to the fixation of P by iron oxides and hydroxides (Fe-P) or aluminum (Al-P), thus disfavoring the phyto-availability of phosphorus [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref5">5</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref6">6</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref7">7</xref>] . To overcome such a situation, phosphorus considered as its first limiting factor was strongly recommended as a fertilizer in order to increase rice yields [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref8">8</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref9">9</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref10">10</xref>] .</p><p>Numerous recommendations have led to the use of soluble phosphates at increasing doses, in rainfed rice cultivation in the forest zone of C&#244;te d’Ivoire, with a limited effect on rice yield, despite the enrichment of the soil with this nutrient [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref3">3</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref11">11</xref>] . In fact, rice yields have always remained below 2 t·ha<sup>−1,</sup> including for improved rice varieties whose potential would be 4 to 5 t·ha<sup>−1</sup>.</p><p>These results allowed us to hypothesize that other factors apart from the phytoavailability of phosphates, both from the soil and from fertilizers, could limit the use of these sources of phosphorus by rice. These then made it necessary to re-examine the use of different phosphate fertilizers in rainfed rice cultivation on acidic soils.</p><p>Therefore, it is therefore necessary to continue investigations aimed at optimizing rice nutrition in phosphorus (P) by taking into account other factors. To this end, a correction of the deficiency of the soil in exchangeable cations (calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg)) the most important in plant nutrition and of their balances involved, could be a path of hope.</p><p>In fact, the work of [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref12">12</xref>] and [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref13">13</xref>] , showed a certain interaction of Ca, Mg and P, in acidic soil of humid forest zone, with positive effect on rice yield. In addition, the work of [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref2">2</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref3">3</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref14">14</xref>] , showed a plateauing of yields, despite the addition of increasing doses of P, and the effectiveness of appreciable levels of P, Ca and Mg in the soil.</p><p>The effects of K and Mg doses on rice yield have been studied extensively [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref4">4</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref15">15</xref>] , as well as those of P, Ca and Mg, in Ivory Coast, by [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref16">16</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref17">17</xref>] . If these basic cations are probably the most important in the management of soil acidity and the availability of phosphate in the soil, their unbalanced or inappropriate use could make phosphate fertilization ineffective and therefore rice yield [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref17">17</xref>] . This is why the present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of Ca/Mg ratios in order to propose a phosphate fertilization strategy for an increase in yields of rainfed plateau rice, on acidic Ferralsol of humid forest zone in Ivory Coast.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Materials and Methods</title><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Experiment Site</title><p>This study was carried out in pots under semi-controlled conditions at the experimental station of the Central Biotechnology Laboratory (LCB) of the National Agronomic Research Center (CNRA) located in Adiopodoum&#233; in C&#244;te d’Ivoire (5˚19 N, 4˚07 W and 43 m). It is an area of tropical rainforest, with a unimodal rainfall regime, an average annual cumulative rainfall of around 1531 mm [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref15">15</xref>] (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>). The soil used for the experiment is of the highly desaturated ferralitic type (Dystric Ferralsol). It was taken from a fall of more than 10 years at a depth of 20 cm.</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Plant Material</title><p>The interspecific rice variety New Rice for Africa 5 (NERICA 5) was used as planting material. It is a short-cycle upland rice variety (95 - 100 JAG). It comes from the crossing of WAB 56 - 104 (Oryza sativa L.) of Asian origin and CG 14 (Oryza glaberrima Steud) of African origin. Its average height can reach 120 cm and it tills between 21 and 45 days after germination (JAG). NERICA 5 rice has a short cycle (95 - 100 JAG) and a potential yield of 5 t·ha<sup>−1</sup> [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref18">18</xref>] .</p></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Experimental Device and Treatments</title><p>The experiment was conducted according to the random split-plot design with five (5) repetitions (blocks). Three (3) fertilizer sources were the factors studied. These are natural phosphate from Togo (35.4% P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> and 36.4% CaO), calcium carbonate-CaCO<sub>3</sub> and magnesium sulfate-Mg<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> (28% Mg) which respectively constituted the sources of P, Ca and Mg. Each fertilizer source was applied at four (4) different doses (0; 25; 50 and 75 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup>). The blocks were subdivided into four (4) bands of 16 treatments corresponding to phosphorus (P). Each band is divided into four (4) sub-bands receiving, randomly, the different doses of calcium (Ca). Finally, the sub-bands received, randomly, the different doses of magnesium (Mg). In total, each block was composed of 64 treatments, i.e. 320 pots for each cultivation cycle.</p></sec><sec id="s2_4"><title>2.4. Setting up the Experiment</title><p>The experiment was carried out on three (3) different dates on the same substrates. It was conducted from March to June 2012 (test 1), from March to June 2013 (test 2) and from September to December 2013 (test 3). In each test, urea (30 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>) and potassium chloride (50 kg K ha<sup>−1</sup>) were used as background fertilizer, then urea (35 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>) was also contributed to tillering and heading of rice. Natural phosphate was applied only on the first try. However, calcium carbonate and magnesium sulfate were added to each test.</p><p>Six (6) grains of rice were sown per pot at a rate of two (2) grains per pocket. Ten (10) days after germination (JAG), demarcation was carried out to reduce the number of plants to three (3) per pot. These plants were watered every two (2) days with 20 mm of water in the absence of rain.</p><p>The rice was harvested at maturity, then weighed at 14% moisture to determine its grain yield (GDR) according to the following relationship:</p><p>RDG = Grain_weight &#215; ( 100 − HUM ) ( Harvest_area &#215; 1000 &#215; 86 ) &#215; 10000 (1)</p><p>with RDG: grain yield in t/ha<sup>−1</sup>; Grain weight in g; Humidity (HUM) in % and harvest area in m<sup>2</sup>.</p></sec><sec id="s2_5"><title>2.5. Soil Analysis</title><p>A sample of highly desaturated ferrallitic type soil (Dystric Ferralsol) under fallow served as a cultural substrate, was taken at a depth of 0 - 20 cm for the experiment after determining the physico-chemical characteristics. The analyses carried out are the particle size [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref19">19</xref>] , soil pH, organic carbon [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref20">20</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref21">21</xref>] , total nitrogen [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref22">22</xref>] , assimilable phosphorus [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref23">23</xref>] , exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref24">24</xref>] , exchange aluminum and free iron. The free iron contents of the soil by the method of [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref25">25</xref>] , the exchangeable aluminum contents by the titrimetric method after extraction with potassium chloride from [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref26">26</xref>] and the phosphorus saturation rate (DSP) values by the method of [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref27">27</xref>] and [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref28">28</xref>] were also determined.</p></sec><sec id="s2_6"><title>2.6. Statistical Analysis</title><p>The collected data were subjected to statistical analyzes using SAS (Statistical Analysis System) version 9.1 and R version 3.6.2 software.</p><p>The R software version 3.6.2 was used to carry out a principal component analysis (PCA) to highlight the fertilizer formulations which influence rice grain yield and a hierarchical ascending classification (CAH) to highlight the different homogeneous groups of fertilizer treatments.</p><p>As for the effects of doses of phosphate, calcium and magnesium on grain yields, an analysis of the response surface curves was carried out with SAS software (Statistical Analysis System) version 9.1. These analyses made it possible to determine optimal doses of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results</title><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. Physico-Chemical Characteristics of the Soil before the Experiment</title><p><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref> shows the results of physicochemical Analyzes of the soil taken from the 0 - 20 cm layer and used for the experiment. It reveals that the soil is sandy-siltyclayey (sand 48%; silt 31% and clay 21%). The apparent density (Da), low (1.42 &lt; 1.5 g/cm<sup>3</sup>), indicates a good state of aeration and good porosity of the soil, and therefore subject to a good water storage capacity. The organic carbon (C) content is low (3.6 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> &lt; 40 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>) for an equally insufficient content (&lt;1 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>) of total nitrogen (N) determined at 0.2 g·kg<sup>−1</sup> coupled with a high (18/1) C/N ratio (&gt;10/1). The contents of exchangeable cations Ca, Mg and K are, respectively, 5.5 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup> (&gt;2 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>), 3.9 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup> (&gt;0.20 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>) and 0. 2 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup> (&gt;0.10 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>), yet with a very low CEC (4.68 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>) below the critical threshold (&lt;20 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>). The Ca/Mg (1.41 &lt; 10) and K/CEC (0.043 &lt; 0.05) ratios are low. However, the Mg/K ratio of 19.5 is large (&gt;2). The strongly acidic pH H<sub>2</sub>O (4.6) is coupled with an insufficient content of assimilable phosphorus (modified Olsen method) of 3 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>, well below the threshold of 10 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>). The soil is rich in free iron-Fe (25.5 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>) and exchangeable aluminum-Al (3.58 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>) characteristic of acidic Ferralsol, while the degree of phosphorus saturation (DSP) of 33.31%, is greater than 20% (critical value).</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Physico-chemical characteristics of the soil at 0 - 20 cm depth before the experiment</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Soil characteristics</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Values</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Clay (g·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >210</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Silt (g·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >310</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Sand (g·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >480</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Da (g·cm<sup>−3</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.42</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH H<sub>2</sub>O</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.6</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH KCl</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >∆Ph</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Organic carbon—C (g·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.6</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total nitrogen—N (g·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >C/N</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >CEC (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.68</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pa (mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ca (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.9</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >K (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ca/Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.41</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg/K</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >K/CEC</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.043</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Free Fe (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >25.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Exchangeable Al (cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.58</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >PSD (%)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.31</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Da: Apparent density; CEC: Cation exchange capacity; DSP: Degree of phosphorus saturation.</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Effects of Fertilizers on Rice Grain Yield and Soil Physicochemical Characteristics</title><p>The principal component analysis made it possible to determine the most contributing fertilizer treatments and measured parameters (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig2">Figure 2</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig3">Figure 3</xref>). Concerning the fertilizer treatments evaluated, those which made the expected average contributions for the formation of the first two dimensions of the PCA (Dim 1 and Dim 2) are as follows: 0P 0Ca 0Mg, 0P 0Ca 25Mg, 0P 0Ca 75Mg, 0P 0Ca 50Mg, 0P 25Ca 0Mg, 0P 25Ca 50Mg, 0P 25Ca 75M g, 0P 25Ca 25Mg, 0P 75Ca 25Mg, 0P 50Ca 0Mg. Furthermore, the analysis showed that the most contributing variables were the Ca/Mg ratio, Pass, Mg, DSP, Al, Fe.</p><p>The PCA carried out on the most contributing individuals and variables resulted in obtaining two factorial axes (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). These factorial axes have eigenvalues of 81.09% for the first dimension (Dim 1) and 11.37% for the second factorial axis (Dim 2). This information shows that the fertilizer treatments which</p><p>influence the chemical parameters and yield are given by the first dimension (Dim1) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig4">Figure 4</xref>). Also, <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref> relating to the correlations between the variables of the two main axes of the PCA, shows that the parameters RDG, Pass, Fe, DSP, and Mg are positively correlated with the first dimension. As for Al, Ca and Ca/Mg, these parameters are negatively correlated with the first dimension.</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Matrix of eigenvalues and correlations of variables with the two main axes of the PCA</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Axis 1</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Axis 2</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Own variance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >7.30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1.02</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >% total variance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.4</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >% total accumulated variance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >81.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >92.5</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >RDG</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.9475921</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.0449835</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >pH</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5981226</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.73928712</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pass</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.9740066</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.0962885</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Al</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.8772236</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.4211743</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Fe</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.9630347</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.0216064</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >DSP</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.9706372</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.1090435</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >That</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.736343</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.49919414</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.9780663</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.02356</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ca/Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >−0.9777669</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.16155789</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Only pH is strongly correlated, positively, with axis 2 (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>). All these parameters have a factorial weight greater than 0.7 taken in absolute value, for the axes of which they contribute effectively to their formations. A negative correlation was thus established between grain yield and the Ca/Mg ratio (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig5">Figure 5</xref>).</p><p>The dendrogram obtained after the ascending hierarchical classification (CAH) shows the existence of two groups of fertilizers following their effects on the agronomic parameters of rice and the chemical characteristics of the soil (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig6">Figure 6</xref>). This dendrogram clearly shows that fertilizers not containing phosphorus lead to a low rice grain yield unlike those composed of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium which boost the RDG.</p><p>The analyzes carried out showed that the fertilizer treatments favored gains in rice grain yield (P = 0.000) (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>). The highest yields were obtained with the fertilizers 50P 25Ca, 50P 75Ca 25Mg, 50P 50Ca 25Mg and 50P 25Mg. However, the lowest yield gains were observed with the 25Mg treatment (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref>).</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. Determination of Optimal Doses for Increasing Rice Grain Yield</title><p>Analysis of rice response to interactive doses of P, Ca and Mg indicates a very highly significant response for both linear and quadratic regression types (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>). However, the coefficient of the quadratic trend (0.22) is higher than that (0.20) of the linear trend. The fertilizer coefficients remain low (1/1000) for both the linear trend and the quadratic trend.</p><p>No significant contribution of the interactions (P, Ca and Mg) is observed in the expression of the yield contrasting with P2, Ca2 and Mg2 whose respective coefficients are negative. This interaction reveals quadratic patterns for P, Ca</p><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Gains in grain yield after application of fertilizer treatments to rice plant</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Treatment</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Grain yield gain (%)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >0P0Ca0Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.00 &#177; 0.00c</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >5.20 &#177; 1.38c</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25Ca50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >11.97 &#177; 3.32bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12.86 &#177; 2.34bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25Ca75Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >13.01 &#177; 1.83bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75Ca25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.36 &#177; 6.76bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.38 &#177; 4.09bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75Ca75Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >16.86 &#177; 6.23bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75Ca50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >17.68 &#177; 6.83bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >18.91 &#177; 5.95bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >19.53 &#177; 7.95bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >25Ca25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >21.05 &#177; 6.42bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >22.27 &#177; 10.80bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50Ca75Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >31.43 &#177; 18.67bc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75P25Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >101.82 &#177; 84.56abc</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P50Ca75Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >110.76 &#177; 18.20ab</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P50Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >111.82 &#177; 18.93<sup>ab</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >112.18 &#177; 18.99<sup>ab</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P50Ca50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >113.55 &#177; 15.60<sup>ab</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >75P50Ca50Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >115.31 &#177; 89.17<sup>ab</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P25Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >133.99 &#177; 64.06<sup>has</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P75Ca25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >136.32 &#177; 67.44<sup>has</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P50Ca25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >142.09 &#177; 13.73<sup>has</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >50P25Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >142.22 &#177; 59.82<sup>has</sup></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Probability (p)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.000</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Significance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >HRT</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Note: In the column, the means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at the 5% threshold (Student Newman-Keuls Test). HRT: Very highly significant.</p><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Characteristics of rice response to interactive doses of phosphorus, calcium and magnesium</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Regression</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Coefficients</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Pr &gt; F</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Linear</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.2051</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Quadratics</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.2258</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Cross product</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.0016</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.5608</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total model</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.4324</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Settings</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Coefficients</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pr &gt; |t|</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Constant</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >1.5141</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >P</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.0522</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >That</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.0086</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.0007</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.0060</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.0268</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >W &#215; W</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >−0.0005</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;0.0001</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >P &#215; Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >−0.00001</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.4696</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >P &#215; Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >−0.00002</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.2568</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ca &#215; Ca</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >−0.0001</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.0012</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ca &#215; Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >0.00001</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.6300</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg &#215; Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >−0.00007</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.0121</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >P &#215; Ca &#215; Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >4.63 &#215; 10<sup>−</sup><sup>8</sup></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0.8953</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="4"  >Critical values</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Factors</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Critical dose (kg/ha)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Optimal dose (kg/ha)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >RDG (t/ha)</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >P</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >48.49</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >41</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >That</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >40.23</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >37</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.06</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Mg</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >33.07</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Note: RDG: grain yield.</p><p>and Mg with respective optimal doses of 41; 37 and 29 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> for an average yield of 3.06 t·ha<sup>−1</sup> (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref>).</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Discussion</title><p>The soil used for the experiment was very acidic (pH<sub>H2O</sub> = 4.6) with a strong phosphorus-P deficiency (&lt;7 mg·kg<sup>−1</sup>). It was also marked by a high free iron content (25.5 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>), a high Al/CEC ratio (76.50%) with a Ca/Mg ratio of 1/1 (Ca = 5.5 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup> and Mg = 3.9 cmol·kg<sup>−1</sup>) and a degree of phosphorus saturation (33.31%) greater than the critical value of 20%. Thus, the high levels of aluminum and iron in the soil lead to a complexation of P by these metals, the consequences of which could be toxicity of the rhizosphere and problems of inhibition of P absorption by the roots [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref29">29</xref>] . Indeed, the descriptive analyzes carried out show that phosphorus-free fertilizers recorded the lowest yields of rice grains. These results indicate that rice nutrition can be primarily influenced by phosphorus. These observations confirm those of several authors who have shown that phosphorus is the most limiting factor for rice production on humid tropical soils [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref29">29</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref30">30</xref>] .</p><p>Also, the addition of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) fertilizers at different doses coupled with phosphorus seems to improve rice grain yield and certain soil chemical parameters (Pass, DSP and Mg).</p><p>These results corroborate those of [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref31">31</xref>] and [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref32">32</xref>] who showed that the availability of phosphorus in the soil was not the sole fact of the quantities of phosphate provided in the form of phosphate fertilizer, but and above all, the result of different equilibrium reactions and the action of numerous other factors.</p><p>These results would demonstrate that calcium and magnesium are important for the mineral nutrition of plants [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref30">30</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref33">33</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref34">34</xref>] . Also, other authors have affirmed that any influence of the availability of phosphorus (P) in the soil could modify the architecture of the root system and impact the uptake and export of P [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref35">35</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref36">36</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref37">37</xref>] .</p><p>The highly significant correlation between assimilable phosphorus in the soil and grain yield confirms the effective contribution to the nutrition of rice plants by phosphorus available in the soil. Overall, it was necessary to bring respectively 41; 37 and 29 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> to (P, Ca and Mg), to reach 3.06 t·ha<sup>−1</sup> in rice grain, i.e. a 1/1 ratio of Ca/Mg for 41 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup>. Thus, the grain yields observed attest that the availability of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, aluminum and iron, as well as the reaction of the soil would influence the phosphate nutrition of rice. It is therefore necessary to control the application of calcium fertilizers, such as magnesium, to acidic soils, in particular, to optimize plant nutrition in phosphorus-P.</p><p>The application of the three nutrients (P, Ca and Mg) in a Ca/Mg ratio of 3/1, with 50 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup> or 1/1 with 75 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup> would offer optimal conditions for better yields rice. Indeed, these soil Ca/Mg ratios of approximately 3/1 and 1/1 are acceptable thresholds for good mineral nutrition of crops [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref38">38</xref>] . These results confirm the fact that the availability of phosphorus-P in the soil is not solely due to the quantities of P provided in the form of phosphate fertilizers [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref32">32</xref>] or organic amendments [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref39">39</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref40">40</xref>] , but and above all the result of the action of numerous factors [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref31">31</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref32">32</xref>] and different equilibrium reactions [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref12">12</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref28">28</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref34">34</xref>] .</p><p>We could admit that an application of the three nutrients (P, Ca and Mg) in a Ca/Mg ratio of 1/1 with a dose of around 50 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup>, would offer optimal conditions for better harvests. and sustainability of rice cultivation in the agroecology studied. Taking into account the Ca/Mg ratio of input is therefore necessary for a strategy of phosphate fertilization of rice, on acidic soil, in the humid forest agroecology of the tropical zone. For work by [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref38">38</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref41">41</xref>] , average rice yields can be achieved with an average Ca/Mg ratio of around 1/1 and average inputs of 41 kg P ha<sup>−1</sup>, 38 kg Ca ha<sup>−1</sup> and 34 kg Mg ha<sup>−1</sup>. In addition to this report, [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref16">16</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.130689-ref17">17</xref>] argued that in soils where the calcium content is high, the soil Ca/Mg ratio should be increased to 3/1 to optimize phosphate nutrition.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Conclusion</title><p>The present work consisted in studying the response of NERICA rice to different doses of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) fertilizers coupled with doses of phosphorus, depending on the yield and some physicochemical parameters of the soil. Thus, the yield of rice and certain soil parameters (Pass, DSP and Mg) seems to improve with increasing doses of P, Ca and Mg. However, the results indicate that the best rice yield are obtained when there is a Ca/Mg ratio of 1/1 and 3/1 for respective applications of 50 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> and 75 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup> of phosphate fertilizer. Furthermore, for good management of the Ca/Mg ratio and an increase in RDG, the results show that calcium should be used at doses lower than 75 kg·ha<sup>−1</sup>, but also, that DSP and Fer (Fe) have strong influences on yield. The availability of phosphorus in the soil does seem to be solely due to the quantities of phosphate fertilizers, but is above all the result of different equilibrium reactions and the action of many other factors. The Ca/Mg ratio and Fe would therefore have synergistic effects on phosphate fertilization in an acid environment.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>The authors express their gratitude to the National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA), the University Alassane Ouattara and partners in West African countries for their support to this study.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s8"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Yao, F.G., Kone, B., Bahan, F.M.L., Amani, K., Essehi, J.L., Ouattara, M.B., Dibi, K.E.B., Kouame, B., Lompo, F. and Yao-Kouame A. (2024) Calcium-Magnesium Ca/Mg Ratios and Their Agronomic Implications for the Optimization of Phosphate Fertilization in Rainfed Rice Farming on Acidic Ferralsol in the Forest Zone of Ivory Coast. Open Journal of Soil Science, 14, 81-96. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojss.2024.141005</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.130689-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">ADERIZ (2023) Annual Report 2022. Abidjan, Ivory Coast.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.130689-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Koné, B., Amadji, G.L., Aliou, S., Diatta, S. and Akakpo, C. (2011) Nutrient Constraint and Yield Potential of Rice on Upland Soil in the South of Dahomey Gap of West Africa. Archive of Agronomy and Soil Science, 57, 763-774.  
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