Soil

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://104.225.218.216/handle/123456789/144

All publications on Soil research.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Cultivars on Soil Properties in Three Districts of Uganda
(Journal of Integrity in Ecosystems and Environment, 2024-03-15) Nankya E.; Senabulya. S
The present study investigated the influence of Eucalyptus cultivation on soil properties across the three districts of Uganda: Kabarole, Mpigi and Rakai which are part of Western Highlands, Lake Victoria Crescent and South Western Agroecological zones respectively. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of two dominant Eucalyptus cultivars GU7 (Improved) and E. grandis (Local) within these regions. A total of three treatments composed of the two above cultivars and the control plot with no eucalyptus were considered for this study. These were each replicated three times making a total of 9 replications per district and a total of 27 replications across the three districts. From each replicate across the three districts, a total of 5 composite soil samples were picked at a depth of 0-30cm making a total of 135 soil samples across the three districts. These were taken to the soil laboratory for analysis of major soil nutrients which included; total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, exchangeable magnesium, calcium, soil organic carbon and pH. Statistical analysis, with R software version 4.3.3, was performed to obtain differences in their means. Results showed a general decline in major soil nutrients (N, P and K) across the Eucalyptus stands in all three districts, with a more significant (P<0.005) decline observed under GU7 cultivar plantations. Additionally, results showed that Mg and Ca were inherently low and the most deficient nutrients in both Kabarole and Rakai while pH was significantly (P<0.05) higher (6.6) in Mpigi compared to the other two districts in the control plot but also significantly (P<0.05) reduced under GU7 plantations in the same district compared to the two districts. The study also revealed that P is the most deficient nutrient in Rakai district for Eucalyptus production while N and SOM are the most deficient in Mpigi. Potassium (K) was significantly (P<0.05) low in both Kabarole and Rakai soils compared to Mpigi district. Conclusively, this study shows a significant negative effect on major soil nutrients (N, P, K) associated with Eucalyptus GU7 cultivar compared to E.grandis across the three districts.
Effect of Applying Low Rates of Agricultural Lime and Chicken Manure on Selected Soil Properties on Ferralsols of Lake Victoria Agro-Ecological Zone, Uganda
(Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 2022-09-21) Freddie Kabango; Byalebeka John; Semalulu Onesimus; Andrew W. Lenssen; Mwanjalolo Jackson Gilbert Majaliwa; Kyebogola Stewart
Ferralsols form a dominant type of soil on which most crops are grown in the Lake Victoria agro-ecological zone. Soil acidity has been recognized among the most important agricultural problems in such soils, which adversely affect crop production and productivity. A study was conducted with the objective of determining the effect of applying low rates of lime and chicken manure on selected soil chemical properties. Using a Split Plot Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design, agricultural lime (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 & 2.0 t·ha−1) as the main plot and chicken manure (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0 t·ha−1) as sub-plot were ap- plied, replicated three times. The test crop was common bean var. NABE 15. The experiment was conducted for three rainy seasons, two seasons on-station and one season on-farm on Ferralsol soil in the Lake Victoria crescent of central Uganda. The results showed that applying low rates of lime with chicken manure significantly (p < 0.05) increased pH, CEC, P, N, K, BS and Mn changes at Mukono but not Masaka. A strong positive significant (r2 = 0.987) relationship with pH change was obtained when 0.5 t·ha−1 lime was applied with the four chicken manure rates in Mukono. From the study, we recommend the application of small quantities of lime at 1.0 t·ha−1 with either 2.0 or 3.0 t·ha−1 chicken manure.
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in Finger Millet Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review of Concepts and Practices
(Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2023-09-15) Joseph Ekwangu; Susan Tumwebaze Balaba; Twaha Ali Basamba Ateenyi; John Steven Tenywa; Helen Opie; Deborah Lillian Nabirye; Charles Andiku; Owere Lawrence
Soil has the capacity to sequester about 50-66% of the 42-78 Giga tons of carbon lost per year. However, the capacity of the soil to sequester carbon is dependent on soil texture and structure, rainfall, temperature, farming systems, and soil management practices. Management practices to enhance soil carbon sequestration include; cover cropping, nutrient management, woodland regeneration, no-till farming, manure, and sludge application, water conservation, and harvesting, efficient irrigation, and agroforestry, among others. These practices have however been applied in un-integrated manner, this has led to continuous loss of soil carbon; consequently, there has been a decline in crop yield especially cereals due to climate- change, soil degradation, pest, and disease burden, among other factors. Yet an increase in soil carbon by one in a degraded soil could increase cereal yield by up to 40 kg ha-1, for example, increase wheat yield by up to 20-40 kg ha-1 and Maize up to 10-20 kg ha-1 as well as reducing fossil fuel emission by 0.4-1.2 Giga tons of carbon per year. This review paper, therefore, looks at current ways of sequestering carbon and how these approaches can be improved and integrated to enhance soil carbon sequestration in cereal-legume cropping systems. There is a need to increase the production of cereals due to the increasing demand for cereals in sub-Saharan Africa and it is projected that, by 2050, the demand is expected to triple due to global population increase which is expected to outmatch production due to low soil carbon sequestration and soil fertility.

Browse

Browsing Soil by Title