Mahougnon Charlotte Carmelle Zoundji

To restore soils degraded by unsuitable practices, which have led to declines in organic matter content and associated consequences, sustainable land management (SLM) practices have been implemented in central Benin. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of these practices on soil organic matter (SOM) levels in cultivated soils in Central Benin. Soil samples were collected from a depth of 0 to 20 cm on SLM plots in two agricultural areas: N’Tchon and Odjobilè. The SLM practices studied were maize intercropped with pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan ), mucuna ( Mucuna pruriens ), soybean ( Glycine max ), cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ), groundnut ( Arachis hypogea ), aeschynomene ( Aeschynomene histrix ), and cassava ( Manihot esculenta ). For each SLM practice, adjacent control plots were sampled. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon organic stock (COS), and particulate organic carbon (POC) were measured. Compared to the adjacent control plots, the soybean–maize and aeschynomene–maize rotations significantly increased soil CEC ( p < 0.05). SOC differed significantly ( p < 0.05) among SLM practices, ranging from 0.37 to 1.67 g/kg. COS was higher with pigeon pea–maize intercropping (37.21 Mg C ha ⁻¹ ) in Odjobilè and with cassava–maize intercropping (37.46 Mg C ha ⁻¹ ) in N’Tchon. The contribution of coarse particulate organic carbon (cPOM‐C) to total particulate organic carbon (tPOM‐C) was smaller than that of fine particulate organic carbon. The greatest cPOM‐C was observed with cowpea–maize and pigeon pea–maize intercropping. However, the greatest fPOM‐C was observed with cowpea–maize intercropping in Odjobilè and with pigeon pea–maize intercropping in N’Tchon. Therefore, SLM practices, such as intercropping with pigeon peas and maize, can serve as an alternative to crop residue burning. These practices can help restore the fertility of degraded soils.

In the context of climate change, which is leading to more erratic rainfall, it is crucial to identify solutions that enhance crop resistance to water stress. This study evaluates the impact of mycorrhizal inoculation on the growth and yield of three tomato cultivars: Akikon (V1), Tounvi (V2), and Anita F1 (V3), under water stress conditions. A factorial block design was employed, combining uninoculated (I0) and inoculated (I1) plants with Terea inoculum, and subjected to either conditions without water stress (S0) or conditions with water stress, achieved by watering every 12 days (S1). Various growth, phenology, and yield parameters were measured. The results revealed highly significant differences among the cultivars for most of the measured parameters (p < 0.001). Mycorrhizal inoculation was shown to positively influence plant growth. Additionally, water stress significantly reduced leaf length (p < 0.01) and increased the number of burnt leaves (p < 0.05). Notably, the inoculated cultivars maintained relatively stable yields despite experiencing water stress. Among the tested tomato cultivars, Akikon (V1) exhibited increased plant height (94.89 ± 1.69 cm) and collar diameter (6.37 ± 0.17 cm) following mycorrhizal inoculation, even under stress conditions. The cultivar Tounvi (V2) demonstrated the best vegetative growth response to water deficit. In contrast, Anita F1 (V3) achieved the highest fruit weight yield, with inoculated plants showing a significant increase (1.9 t/ha). In conclusion, mycorrhizal inoculation enhances water stress tolerance and improves tomato yields, with responses varying by cultivar. Among the tested cultivars, Akikon and Tounvi showed improved growth, while Anita F1 excelled in yield and resilience. Thus, mycorrhizal inoculation represents a promising strategy to strengthen agricultural resilience and sustainability in Benin amid climatic challenges.

Soil erosion has become one of the most common environmental problems and threatens food security. This study assessed the short‐term effect of tillage and mulch on soil redistribution using the beryllium‐7 method, soil moisture distribution, and soil organic carbon loss through soil erosion in typical agroecological conditions of Benin. The experiment was conducted on acrisols (at Dan) and ferralsols (at Za‐zounmè) in central Benin. Three tillage practices slope ridging (SR), contour ridging (CR), and no‐tillage (NT), and three mulch doses 0 (0 M), 3 (3 M), and 7 t ha⁻¹ (7 M) on soil erosion under maize were investigated. The results showed a tillage and mulch interaction significantly (p < 0.05) influencing the soil redistribution, the loss of total carbon, the carbon of the particulate organic matter (C_POM), and the carbon content of the fine organic matter (C_MOM). High soil erosion was observed under SR0M (−10.19 t ha⁻¹) at Dan and under NT0M (−7.36 t ha⁻¹) at Za‐zounmè. NT7M (0.80 t ha⁻¹), SR7M (0.69 t ha⁻¹), CR3M (2.07 t ha⁻¹), and CR7M (4.05 t ha⁻¹) showed deposition at Dan, while SR7M (0.23 t ha⁻¹), NT7M (1.69 t ha⁻¹), and CR7M (3.93 t ha⁻¹) showed deposition at Za‐zounmè. C_MOM was lost on both sites. Mulch increases soil moisture for all three tillage treatments, and this effect is well pronounced especially if the amount of mulch is great. This study revealed useful information to be taken into consideration when developing soil and water conservation management strategies in Benin.