Soil quality and fertility dynamics under a continuous cassava-maize rotation in the semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone of Ghana

The practice of crop rotation is known to significantly influence soil nutrient dynamics, depending on the type and crops involved. As such, a field study was conducted find out effect continuous cassava-maize rotation, where mineral fertilizer only applied maize crop, nutrients dynamics quality thereof under varying periods. revealed that Soil Organic Matter (SOM) levels nutrients, such as total nitrogen, available phosphorus exchangeable cations (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium) declined with period. Long term maize–cassava led subsoil (20–50cm) acidification. measured by Carbon Management Index (CMI) different aged rotations decreased age, longest period giving least quality. These results observations imply long reduced resilience cropping system for sustainable production. A regression analysis CMI identified crucial role N ( r 2 = 0.56) K 0.44) in sustaining productive improved within semi-deciduous forest agro-ecological zone. It thus, recommended enhanced targeted organic inorganic fertilization regime could be deployed improve inherently low increase yields.