Agronomic potential of cactus digestate: Effects on the growth and productivity of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

Senegalese agriculture, essential for food security, faces major challenges, including soil degradation and the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. In the context of an agroecological transition, this study aims to evaluate the effect of cactus digestate, an organic input, on the growth and productivity of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), compared to a fermented solution of Calotropis procera and NPK chemical fertilizer. The results show that cactus digestate significantly improves several agronomic parameters of okra: collar diameter, height, vigor, spread, number of leaves, as well as yield. Although chemical fertilizer (T3) produced the best results in terms of productivity, cactus digestate (T2) proved statistically equivalent to the fermented solution of Calotropis procera (T1) for several growth parameters. This performance may be explained by its balanced nutrient supply and stimulation of soil microbial activity. These results suggest that cactus digestate is a viable and sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers, reconciling productivity with environmental preservation in an agroecological perspective.