Assessment of soil fertility status of three soils after four years of continuous application of different nutrients
| dc.contributor.author | Mbanzibwa,Deusdedith | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-11-20T07:28:37Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-11-20T07:28:37Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2004 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | A study was undertaken to assess the fertility status of three soils following four years of continual application of different nutrients. The three soils were from Mlingano, Nkundi and Sasanda, which are classified as Rhodic Kandiustox, Acruoxic Kandiustult and Dystrict Haplustand, respectively. The study was conducted under both field and glasshouse conditions. For the pot experiment conducted at the SUA glasshouse all three soils were used whereas field experiment was conducted only at Nkundi site. Soils for pot experiment were taken from absolute control plots and from plots treated with TSP and MPR at the rate of 120 kg P/ha. Under field study one more treatment, namely control for P was included. The results showed that application of different nutrients, except nitrogen, led to build up in levels of applied nutrients. Application of MPR or TSP increased levels of Bray 1-P from low to medium and high levels, respectively, in Nkundi and Mlingano soils. In Sasanda soil, Bray 1-P remained below 5 mg P/kg despite application of TSP and MPR. This was attributed to high P fixation capacity of Sasanda soil. In Nkundi soil, MPR application raised Bray 1-P from 5.0 mg P/kg to 41.7 mg P/kg whereas in Mlingano soil Bray 1-P was raised from 2.6 mg P/kg to 39.4 mg P/kg. Application of TSP raised Bray 1-P to above 105 mg P/kg in Mlingano and Nkundi soils but only to 4.7 mg P/kg in Sasanda soil. Zinc and copper increased to sufficient levels in all soils due to application of zinc sulphate and copper sulphate fertilizers. Use of TSP or MPR decreased soil pH in Mlingano and Nkundi soils but the decrease was less in soil treated with MPR. For instance in Mlingano soil, pH decreased from 5.5 to 5.4 and 5.0 for soils treated with MPR and TSP, respectively. However in Sasanda soil MPR increased soil pH from 5.0 to 5.3 and there occurred no shift in pH in plots treated with TSP. Residual P increased significantly (P = 0.05) the maize dry matter and grain yields in plots treated with TSP and MPR. The increase in dry matter and grain yields due to residual P from MPR and TSP were comparable. In Mlingano and Nkundi soils, diy matter yields ranged between 7.29 and 64.77 g/pot whereas in Sasanda soil it ranged between 2.12 and 22.10 g/pot. At Nkundi site, residual P from MPR and TSP gave yields of 4.23 and 4.73 t ha'1,respectively. Yield in absolute control and control for P treatments were 1.03 and 1.83 t ha'’, respectively. It was concluded that residual P from MPR and TSP had comparable effects on maize production. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7147 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Soil texture | |
| dc.subject | Soil organic matter | |
| dc.subject | Soil fertility status | |
| dc.subject | Sasanda soil MPR | |
| dc.title | Assessment of soil fertility status of three soils after four years of continuous application of different nutrients | |
| dc.type | Thesis |