Morphology, Genesis, Physico-chemical Properties, Classification and Potential of Soils Derived from Volcanic Parent Materials in Selected Districts of Mbeya Region, Tanzania
Journal Title: International Journal of Plant & Soil Science - Year 2016, Vol 10, Issue 4
Abstract
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 exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from medium to very high (16.8 - 41 cmol(+) kg-1 soil for topsoils and 21 - 42.6 cmol(+) kg-1 for subsoils). All studied pedons had pHNaF > 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%. SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe2O3 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.
Authors and Affiliations
Balthazar M. Msanya, Juvenal A. Munishi, Nyambilila Amuri, Ernest Semu, Lydia Mhoro, Zacharia Malley
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP351541
- DOI 10.9734/IJPSS/2016/24855
- Views 107
- Downloads 0
Influence of Glufosinate Ammonium on Some Soil Properties and Rhizospheric Micro-organisms of Tea Crop (Camellia sinensis L.) in Eastern Himalayan Region of India
The effect of Glufosinate Ammonium 13.5% SL on soil physico-chemical properties and microflora population on tea soil of Darjeeling, West Bengal, India was investigated over two years (2014 and 2015). Effect of herbicide...
The Influence of Soil Surface Conditions and Rainfall Intensity on Runoff Generation Potential in Semiarid Botswana
The study analyzed an investigation of soil surface conditions and their runoff generation potential by means of field experiment and model predictions. The field experiment was carried out during the period January 2012...
Changes in Labile Pools of Soil Organic Carbon in Relation with Crop Productivity in Different Long-term Fertilizer Treatments
Studying the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for understanding the carbon stabilization into different pools. Thus, a 25-year old experiment was used to assess the impact of double rice cropping system...
Assessment of Some Tropical Plants for Use in the Phytoremediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soil: Effects of Remediation on Soil Physical and Chemical Properties
Field experiment was conducted in the Teaching and Research Farm of Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 2015 cropping season to evaluate the effectiveness of phytoremediation as a tool for cleaning up soi...
Effects of Nano Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Particles on Germination of Maize (Zea mays L.) Seeds
The Lab experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2016-17 in the laboratory of Department of Agronomy, Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra (G.K.V.K), University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru with different co...