Effect of method of terracing on some physical and chemical properties of soils of Mgeta, Morogoro, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Kisanga, Danielson Ramoz | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-10-03T12:44:03Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-10-03T12:44:03Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1992 | |
| dc.description | Master's Theses | |
| dc.description.abstract | A field experiment was conducted on cultivated sandy clay loam Chromic Cambisols at Mgeta on the slopes of Uluguru mountains. The objectives were to study the effects of terracing methods on some soil physical and chemical properties and to relate the results to crop performance observed in the field. The main treatments consisted of bench and ladder terraces. The subtreatments were three positions on the slope, and five 10 cm interval soil depth sections. The physical properties assessed were particle size analysis, bulk and particle densities and available water capacity. The assessed chemical properties included pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, carbon, organic total nitrogen, and available phosphorus. There available were significant water capacity, increases in exchangeable clay, silt, calcium and magnesium contents and a decreasing trend in very coarse sand particles along the slope under ladder terraces. In the bench terraces, bulk density increased slightly while total porosity decreased significantly along the slope. Most of the soil physical and chemical properties from the bench terraces were significantly different along the slope, but lacked a defined trend, Exchangeable cations, total nitrogen, and organic carbon for the two main treatments showed a decreasing trend from surface to the bottom of the soil profile. Other soil physical and chemical properties lacked defined trends with depth. The causes of the observed trends in the bench and ladder terraces are respectively attributed to the mechanical movement of soil and gradual but continuous transportation of fine soil materials by water down the slope. The variations in soil physical and chemical properties within and between the two treatments were attributed to the nature of the soils and methods used in the construction of the terraces. Variations in the studied soil properties account for the observed crop performance. In order to improve crop performance and maintain a sustainable crop production at Mgeta, several soil management and conservation measures are proposed. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (NORAD) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/7088 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Physical properties | |
| dc.subject | Chemical properties | |
| dc.subject | Soils Science | |
| dc.subject | Mgeta | |
| dc.subject | Morogoro | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.title | Effect of method of terracing on some physical and chemical properties of soils of Mgeta, Morogoro, Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |