Tropicultura (Jan 1993)
Assolement maraichage/heliciculture au Sud Benin
Abstract
In a system rotating vegetable crops/snail rearing, the effect of manure based on snail faeces on the productivity of lettuce has been studied in southern Benin, characterized by a guinea type climate and a degradated ferralitic soil commonly named as [alfisoil] "Terre de barre". The tested rotation system is an alternate biannual type where three forms of manure have been utilized : mineral manure (N15P15K15) ; organic manure (snail faeces or trashes) ; combination of organic manure/mineral manure, that is snail faeces and N15P15K15. Five treatments were tested corresponding to the mode of manure which is either organic manure alone, or organic manure added with mineral manure applied at three levels : 0 g, 125 g, 250 g per plot of de 7.2 rrf. The results obtained showed a quite good plant developement for all treatments except on plots where only trashes were used. The highest yield in green salad (150 kg/100 rrf per plot on the average) has been obtained on the plot where snails were reared in year 1 and where in year 2 an average dosage of mineral manure (125 g of N15P15K15) was applied. We can temporarily conclude that snail faeces, combined with an average dosage of chemical fertilizer would insure a good production of lettuce.
