Fat is an important component of the groundnut seed from which oil is extracted for food. Groundnut seeds from clay soils had the highest fat and iron contents, respectively 46.6%±6.3 g and 2.4 mg per 100 g of dry matter. Clay soils have the advantage of having high water retention and availability capacities; in addition, sediment deposition is more important, which could explain the high iron and lipid contents in groundnut seeds from these soils. Clay minerals play an important role in phosphorus absorption and availability.
However, groundnut seeds from clay soils have the lowest carbohydrate content of 14.3±1.9 g/100 g dry matter. Carbohydrates give the sweet taste to some peanut varieties that are highly valued for processing into peanuts or eaten plain.
The results of this study showed that soil type has a significant effect on the ash, fat, carbohydrate and iron contents of peanut seeds. Clay soils have the advantage of interesting physical properties in terms of high-water retention and availability; in addition, sediment deposition is higher, which could explain the high iron and lipid contents in groundnut seeds from these soils.
Groundnut farming techniques by soil type, topo sequence and field type
Fig 1 presents the farming techniques for groundnuts in Lebda according to soil type, toposequence and field type. With regard to soil type, the results of the survey show that groundnut growers cultivate on three types of soil, namely sandy, gravelly and clayey. These three types of soil are characteristic of the soil conditions in the growing area. It should also be noted that groundnuts are a crop that does not require large amounts of water for its development. This makes its cultivation more successful on soils that retain very little moisture (sandy and gravelly soils) as opposed to soils that have a high water retention capacity such as clay soils.
According to the toposequence, 42.86% of farmers cultivate groundnuts at the bottom of the slope, 35.71% at the top of the slope and 21.43% in the absence of slope. With regard to field types, the results of the survey showed that half of the producers,
i.e. 50%, cultivate in bush fields. The lower slope is preferred by producers to compensate for the pockets of drought that have become more and more recurrent in recent years. The lower slope allows for a longer retention of soil moisture compared to other types of slopes. In addition, there is no preferred type of field for groundnut cultivation, it is grown according to the available land.
Effect of soil type on nutritional parameters of groundnut seeds
Table 2 shows the macronutrient and micronutrient (iron and zinc) contents of groundnut seeds according to soil type. Analyses of variance showed significant differences by soil type for ash, fat, carbohydrate and iron content. However, soil type had no effect on protein and zinc content.
The average ash content of groundnut seeds varied from 2.15±0.11 g/100 g dry matter on clay soils to 2.30±0.15 g/100 g dry matter on sandy soils. The fat content varied from 40.64±1.92 g/100 g dry matter on gravelly soils to 46.58± 6.37g/100 g dry matter on clay soils. The average carbohydrate content of groundnut seeds varied from 14.34 ±5.02 g/100 g dry matter on clay soils to 18.86±1.90 g/100 g dry matter on gravel soils. Iron levels varied from 1.97±0.56 mg/100 g dry matter on sandy soils to 2.46±0.39 mg/100 g dry matter on clay soils. The average ash content of groundnut seeds from sandy soils was the highest (2.30 g/100 g dry matter); this similar to that found by
Knoden et al., (2003) which was 2.3 g/100 g dry matter for seeds of the runner variety. The average lipid content of groundnut seeds from clay soils is lower (46.58±6.37 g/100 g dry matter) than that obtained by
Knoden et al., (2003), which was 47.5 g/100 g dry matter, but higher than that reported by local nutritional composition table (
Direction de la Nutrition, 2005), which was 44.8 g/100 g dry matter
The average carbohydrate content of peanut seeds from gravelly soils (18.86 g/100 g DM) is similar to that obtained by
Knoden et al., (2003) which was 18.6 g/100 g dry matter and lower than that given by the local nutritional composition table (
Direction de la Nutrition 2005) food composition table which was 23 g/100 g dry matter.
The average iron content of groundnut seeds from clay soils (2.46 g/100 g dry matter) is lower than that reported by local nutritional composition table (
Direction de la Nutrition 2005) which was 3.8 mg/100 g dry matter.
The results of this study showed that soil type has a significant effect on the ash, lipid, carbohydrate and iron contents of groundnut seeds. Clay soils have the advantage of interesting physical properties in terms of high water retention and availability (
Agbé, 2007); in addition, sediment deposition is higher, which could explain the high iron and lipid contents in groundnut seeds from these soils.
Effect of toposequence on nutritional parameters of groundnut seeds
Table 3 presents the macronutrient and micronutrient (iron and zinc) contents of groundnut seeds by toposequence. Analyses of variance showed significant differences by toposequence for ash and zinc content. However, toposequence had no effect on protein, lipid, carbohydrate and iron content.
The average ash content of the peanut seeds varied from 2.03±0.07 g/100 g dry matter on the flat land to 2.30± 0.12 g/100 g dry matter on the steep land. Zinc content varied from 3.96±0.23 mg/100 g DM in the flat areas to 4.84±1.46 mg/100 g dry matter in the high slope areas.
The average ash content of groundnut seeds from the high slope land was the highest (2.30±0.12 g/100 g dry matter); it is higher than those reported by similar to that found by
Knoden et al., (2003) which was 2.3 g/100 g dry matter for seeds of the runner variety.
The average zinc content of groundnut seeds from the upper slopes was the highest (4.84±1.46 mg/100 g dry matter) and is higher than that reported in the local nutritional composition table (
Direction de nutrition, 2005) which was 3.8 mg/100 g dry matter.
Groundnut seeds from the upper slopes are rich in zinc. Depending on the toposequence situation, fat, carbohydrate and iron contents are affected. Lipid contents are significantly higher in groundnut seeds grown on soils without denivellation. Iron contents of groundnut seeds are low on the lower slopes.