Browsing by Author "Malley, Zacharia"

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Growth and yield responses of rice, wheat and beans to Zn and Cu fertilizers in soils of Mbeya region, Tanzania
(International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research, 2015-11-10) Mhoro, Lydia; Semu, E.; Amuri, N.; Msanya, B. M.; Munishi, J. A.; Malley, Zacharia
Low crop production in most arable lands is associated with soils highly depleted of nutrients. A study was conducted in selected physiographic units of Mbeya Region Tanzania, to investigate the levels of soil macro- and micronutrients effect on crops (rice, wheat and beans) performance. Soils were analyzed in the laboratory. Screen-house experiments with three levels of Zn (0, 7.5 and 15 mg kg -1 soil) and Cu (0, 5 and 10 mg kg -1 soil) in combination with N and P treatment in completely randomized design with three replications was conducted. The results showed that all soils were deficient in N, P and Cu, while 46% of soils had low Ca. Zn was low in 46% of the soils while K and Fe was sufficient in all soils. Application of 15 mg kg -1 Zn and 5 mg kg -1 Cu with N and P fertilizers gave significantly highest grain yield of rice (9.05 g pot -1 ), beans (5.80 g pot -1 ) and wheat (5.58 g pot -1 ). The control gave lowest grain yield in all crops. Zink rate of 15 mg kg -1 and Cu rate of 5 mg kg -1 was sufficient to increase yields in these soils. Field experiments are recommended to confirm Zn and Cu fertilizer recommendations.
Growth and yield responses of rice, wheat and beans to Zn and Cu fertilizers in soils of Mbeya region, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2015) Mhoro, Lyidia; Semu, Ernest; Amuril, Nyambilila; Msanyal, Bathjazar; Munishi, Juvenal A.; Malley, Zacharia
Low crop production in most arable lands is associated with soils highly depleted of nutrients. A study was conducted in selected physiographic units of Mbeya Region Tanzania, to investigate the levels of soil macro- and micronutrients effect on crops (rice, wheat and beans) performance. Soils were analyzed in the laboratory. Screen-house experiments with three levels of Zn (0, 7.5 and 15 mg kg-1 soil) and Cu (0, 5 and 10 mg kg-1 soil) in combination with N and P treatment in completely randomized design with three replications was conducted. The results showed that all soils were deficient in N, P and Cu, while 46% of soils had low Ca. Zn was low in 46% of the soils while K and Fe was sufficient in all soils. Application of 15 mg kg-1 Zn and 5 mg kg-1 Cu with N and P fertilizers gave significantly highest grain yield of rice (9.05 g pot-1), beans (5.80 g pot-1) and wheat (5.58 g pot-1). The control gave lowest grain yield in all crops. Zink rate of 15 mg kg-1 and Cu rate of 5 mg kg-1 was sufficient to increase yields in these soils. Field experiments are recommended to confirm Zn and Cu fertilizer recommendations.
Morphology, genesis, physico-chemical properties, classification and potential of soils derived from volcanic parent materials in selected districts of Mbeya region, Tanzania
(International Journal of Plant & Soil Science, 2016-03-30) Msanya, B. M.; Munishi, Juvenal, A.; Amuri, N.; Semu, E.; Mhoro, Lydia; Malley, Zacharia
This study clarifies the morphology, genesis, physico-chemical properties and classification of soils developed from volcanic parent materials of Mbeya Region, Tanzania. Six typical pedons (MWK 01, IFIG 02, MKY 03, MWZ 04, KYE 01 and NDE 01), were identified, described and 33 soil samples analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics. Results indicate that all pedons were very deep, with textures ranging between fine and coarse. Soil moisture retention ranged between low and medium (78 - 101 mm/m). Some pedons had volcanic ash layers of varying thicknesses and buried 2BC, 2Bwb or 3Bwb horizons, typical of recent volcanic soils. Topsoils had low bulk and particle densities ranging between 0.70 to 1.26 g cm -3 and 1.95 to 2.55 g cm -3 , respectively. Organic carbon (OC) content ranged from medium to very high (1.29 to 5.58%). The studied pedons had extremely acidic to very slightly acidic pH ranging from 4.02 to 6.58. Cation -1 exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from medium to very high (16.8 - 41 cmol(+) kg soil for -1 topsoils and 21 - 42.6 cmol(+) kg for subsoils). All studied pedons had pH NaF > 9.5, reflecting an exchange complex dominated by amorphous Fe and Al oxides and/or humus complexes. Phosphate retention capacity (PRC) ranged from 25 to 97% and one pedon (MWZ 04) met the andic properties requirement of PRC ≥ 85%. SiO 2, Al 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 ranged from 46.5 to 62.1%, 26.3 to 38.4% and 4.0 to 9.8%, respectively. On the basis of computed Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), the degree of weathering of the studied pedons followed the trend NDE 01>MKY 03>MKW 01>KYE 01>IFIG 02>MWZ 04. According to USDA Soil Taxonomy, the studied pedons were classified as Alfisols (pedons MKW 01, MKY 03 and NDE 01), Inceptisol (pedon IFIG 02), Andisol (pedon MWZ 04) and Entisol (Pedon KYE 01), respectively correlating to Alisols, Cambisol, Andosol and Umbrisol of WRB for Soil Resources. The studied soils were generally rated as having low to medium fertility.