Evaluation of Soil Fertility Status and Land Suitability for Smallholder Farmers’ Groundnut and Maize Production in Chisamba District, Zambia
Journal Title: International Journal of Plant & Soil Science - Year 2016, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status and the suitability of land for the smallholder farmers’ sustainable production of groundnut and maize in Chisamba District of Zambia. Composite soil samples (0 – 30 cm) were collected from the fields of 18 randomly selected major groundnut producing villages. The soils were analysed for various chemical and physical properties. Then focused group discussions as instruments of data collection were used to capture information on market availability for groundnuts. The simple limitation method was used to compute land suitability. The results showed that most (63.63%) of the soils were strongly acidic, with the mean pH of 4.95±0.35. The mean of CEC was 3.63±2.73 cmol / kg. There was a highly significant and positive relationship between pHCaCl2 and the concentration of Ca (r = 0.653, P = .000), Mg (r = 0.614, P = .000) and K (r = 0.651, P = .000). There was also a positive highly significant relationship between N and SOM (r = 0.487, P = .004). A positive and highly significant relationship between gender of the smallholder farmer and sale of groundnuts at markets of nearest towns (r = 0.202, P = .005) was observed. It was observed that 72.22% of the groundnuts producing areas of Chisamba District were marginally suitable (S3) for groundnut production. It was also observed that 68.75 % of the soils in the study area were marginally suitable for maize production. It was concluded that the major soil fertility limiting factors were soil acidity, low CEC, SOM, Ca, Mg, K and N. The major socio-economic limiting factor was the non-availability of stable markets.
Authors and Affiliations
Meki Chirwa, Jerome Peter Mrema, Peter Wilson Mtakwa, Abel K. Kaaya, Obed I. Lungu
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP351553
- DOI 10.9734/IJPSS/2016/25161
- Views 105
- Downloads 0
Nematicidal Efficacy of Neem (Azadirachta indica, A. Juss) Seed Extract against Meloidogyne incognita
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the nematicidal efficacy of aqueous extract of seeds of Azadirachta indica on Meloidogyne incognita, the most common and harmful gall causing nematodes in this region, with the...
Estimation of Optimum Plot Size and Shape from a Uniformity Trial for Field Experiment with Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Crop in Soil of Hisar
A study of uniformity trial for assessing the nature and magnitude of soil variability and to determine the optimum size and shape of plots was conducted on 66A507 Pioneer hybrid of Sunflower crop at Research Farm of CCS...
Larvicidal Effect of Castor Plant (Ricinus communis Linn) on Anopheles Mosquito
Aims: Mosquito-borne diseases still remain a major health problem and their control depends largely on preventive measures against the vectors. The control of mosquito at larvae stage is considered effective way of vecto...
Variability of Selected Physico-chemical Properties of Soil Overlying Different Parent Materials in Odukpani, Cross River State
This research investigated variability among soil properties in soils overlying shale, sandstones and limestone parent materials. The result showed variability in percent sand, silt and clay content in both surface and s...
In situ Method for Measurement of the Stem Flow of Maize
Measurement of stem flow is important for analyzing the water balance and evaluating the soil erosion in agricultural fields with crop stands under precipitation. Most used methods for stem flow measurement now are ex si...