LAND SUITABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR COTTON PRODUCTION IN BAFIME AND LARAZOUROU, KORHOGO DEPARTMENT, COTE D IVOIRE

Abstract

Cotton yields in the Northern Basin of Cote d Ivoire have declined under the combined effects of pests, diseases, soil degradation, water stress and poor crop management, a situation made worse by the scarcity of detailed site-level pedological data. This study characterized soil fertility constraints and evaluated land suitability for cotton in two representative villages of Korhogo Department, Bafime and Larazourou. Six composite topsoil samples (four from Bafime, two from Larazourou) and two complete soil profiles (0-100 cm, one per village) were collected in 2021 and analysed using standard laboratory methods. Climatic suitability was assessed from 1980-2020 ERA5 reanalysis data, and both components were evaluated with the FAO/Sys et al. (1993) crop-requirement framework. The soils were slightly acidic to near-neutral (mean pH 6.52) with moderate base saturation (55.6%), but their overall fertility was low.