Browsing by Author "Massawe, B. H. J."
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Item Assessing drivers of soil properties and classification in the West Usambara mountains, Tanzania(Elsevier, 2017-10-16) Massawe, B. H. J.; Winowiecki, L.; Meliyo, J. L.; Mbogoni, J. D. J.; Msanya, B. M.; Kimaro, D.; Deckersf, J.; Gulinck, H.; Lyamchai, C.; Sayula, G.; Msokah, E.; Vagen, T.; Brush, G.; Jelinskii, N. A.Improved soil information in tropical montane regions is critical for conservation, sustainable agricultural management, and land use planning, but is often challenged by topographic and land-use heterogeneity. The West Usambara mountains are a part of the Eastern Arc chain of mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, a globally important tropical montane ecoregion made up of isolated fault-block mountain complexes characterized by high biological endemism, population density, and agronomic productivity. We synthesized novel and legacy soil data from published and unpublished studies to better understand the drivers of soil property distributions and soil diversity in the West Usambaras, and to serve as a foundation for improved soil mapping efforts across the Eastern Arc. Analysis of the resulting dataset of 468 sites (ranging in elevation from 1040 to 2230 m.a.s.l.) revealed that soil properties varied more significantly by land use and topography than by soil type, suggesting that future mapping efforts in the region should focus primarily on soil property prediction and secondarily on soil classification. Sites under cultivated land uses had the lowest topsoil soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations and highest pH values, and SOC generally increased with increasing elevation. Valley soils had significantly lower surface SOC concentrations but higher exchangeable bases and pH values than all other landscape positions. Soil pH decreased by an average of 3.5 units across the entire elevation gradient and decreased by 1 unit with elevation even after SOC, land use and landscape position were included in multiple regression models. The relationship of cation exchange capacity (CEC) to SOC and clay content varied by landscape position. Therefore, particularly in montane regions where soils can vary significantly over short distances, multiple functions may be necessary to produce improved estimates of parameters such as CEC. Soil classification was driven most strongly by topography, with Acrisols (WRB Reference Group) and Ultisols (U.S. Soil Taxonomy (ST)) as the dominant soil types, located primarily on mid slope, upper slope and crest landscape positions, making up 47% and 75% of observed profiles, respectively. However, five ST Orders and seven WRB Reference Groups were present in the dataset, with the highest soil diversity occurring at lower slope landscape positions. Conclusions drawn from this large dataset support previous work in the West Usambaras and provide a conceptual foundation from which to build improved soil maps across the Eastern Arc and in other tropical montane systems throughout the world.Item Digital soil mapping and gis-based land evaluation for rice suitability in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania(The Ohio State University, 2015) Massawe, B. H. J.A GIS-based multi-criteria land evaluation was performed in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania in order to avail decision makers and farmers with evidence based decision support tool for improved and sustainable rice production in this important region for agricultural investment. Five most important criteria for rice production in the area were identified through literature search and discussion with local agronomists and farmers. The identified criteria were 1) soil properties, 2) surface water resources, 3) accessibility, 4) distance to markets, and 5) topography. Spatial information for these criteria for the study area was generated. To generate spatial soil information, field survey and lab analysis was conducted using base map generated from a legacy soil map and 30 m Digital Elevation Model (DEM). OSACA, a k-means based clustering application was used to perform distance metric numerical classification of soil profiles. The profiles were classified into 13 clusters. The clusters were demonstrated to be different from each other through comparison of modeled continuous vertical variability of selected attributes of modal soil cluster centroids by using equal area spline functions. Two decision tree based algorithms, J48 and Random Forest (RF) were applied to construct models to spatially predict the soil clusters using environmental correlates derived from 30 m DEM, 5 m RapidEye satellite image and legacy soil map using the scorpan digital soil mapping framework. The RF predicted soil cluster map was picked for land evaluation because the algorithm demonstrated superiority by having comparatively higher predictive rate and pixel contiguity. Topsoil attributes values of predicted soil clusters were used to produce soil physical and chemical properties maps. On-screen digitization, reclassifications and overlays in ArcMap and Whitebox GIS software were used to create spatial layers of the other identified criteria. Rivers were digitized from the satellite image and topographic map of the study area to create surface water resources map. Roads were digitized to create accessibility map and market centers’ coordinate points were digitized to create distance to market map. Slope gradient derivative from DEM was used to create topography map. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to score the criteria by the local extension staff and lead farmers on a scale of 0.0 – 1.0. Surface water resource scored the highest weight (0.462) followed by soil chemical properties (0.234). Other criteria and their weight in paranthesis are soil physical properties (0.19), topography (0.052), accessibility (0.036), and distance to market (0.025). The multi-criteria land evaluation results showed that about 8% of the study area was classified as having low suitability for rice production while only 2% was highly suitable. The majority of the area (about 89%) was classified as having medium suitability for rice production. Since the suitability decision was dominated by the surface water resource criterion, the rice suitability in the study area can be greatly improved by improving the water resources management.Item Distribution of invasive plant species Chromolaena odorata (Siam Weed) in Serengert district(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2016) Massawe, B. H. J.Chromolaena odorata, also known as Siam Weed, is an herbaceous to woody perennial invasive plant species that is considered one of the world’s worst weeds. The plant has a bushy habit which forms a very dense thicket about 2 m high. After the first year of growth, the plant develops a strong, woody underground storage organ, which can reach a diameter of 20 cm (http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/23248) The weed has effective short and long distance dispersal mechanism, jeopardizing pasture and farmlands in the tropical region, including Tanzania (Crutwell McFadyen and Skarrat; 1996; Kriticos et al., 2005; Raimundo et al., 2007). Most of the seeds produced by the plant enter the soil and build up a seed bank which may survive up to 6 years (Waterhouse and Zeimer, 2002). The seeds are generally wind-disseminated but they can also stick to fur, feather and clothes. Siam weed is highly competitive. It has prolific reproduction, fast growth and branching habit, which ensures rapid domination and suppression of other species. Under its very dense canopy thicket, light is scarce and other fast-growing species cannot survive. Slow-growing, shade- tolerant species are regularly bent to the ground by the continuous pressure of the growth of new C. odorata twigs on the upper layer of the thicket (Gautier, 1992b). The plant has a very efficient root system for nutrients absorption (Bennet and Rao, 1968), and allopathic effects may also be involved in suppressing other vegetation (Ambika and Jayachandra, 1980b; Nakamura and Nemoto, 1993). Siam weed is considered as a weed in all perennial crops of the humid tropics, pasture and forestry. Its aggressiveness is much more serious where it is an exotic plant, rather than where it is native. The weed grows in areas with an annual rainfall below 1000 mm, provided the dry season is not too long and it is limited to around 2000 m altitude. It grows on soils ranging from sand dunes to heavy clays (Liggit, 1983), and it is heavily dependent on the availability of light. The weed has a lot of negative impact in grassland and cropland. In low-growing annual and perennial crops, C. odorata can completely overwhelm the crop, whereas in taller crops, as soon as the canopy is closed the weed is no longer a problem. In shifting cultivation, the weedreplaces the natural secondary succession and becomes the dominant fallow species (Slaats, 1995). The weed out competes and causes severe problems in pastures growth (Audru et al., 1988). It has high nitrate content in its leaves leading it to be poisonous to cattle (Sajise et al., 1974). C. odorata can also transmit pathogenic fungi (Oritsejafor, 1986), and act as a host for insect pests including Zonocerus variegatus (Chapman et al., 1986). In regions where there are dry seasons C. odorata can be a fire hazard (Englberger, 2009). The weed’s presence in Serengeti district was first documented in Rung’abure village less than five years ago. Since then, the weed has prevailed and its distribution has been increasing fast to areas which were previously not infested. Both croplands and pastureland are affected, and the magnitude appears to increase rapidly with time. This study intended to establish the extent of the spread of C odorata in the Serengeti District at the time of the study, and relate it to some biophysical factors from existing database.Item Distribution of invasive plant species Prosopis juliflora (mesquite) in relationship to biophysical factors in Rombo, Mwanga, and Same districts(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2016) Massawe, B. H. J.Prosopis juliflora is among aggressive invaders in tropical, arid and semi-arid natural grasslands. This plant which belongs to the Fabaceae family is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, has become established as an invasive weed in many places including Africa (http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/43942). In many areas where it is not native, the plant was firstly intentionally introduced and planted for soil and water conservation purposes, ornamental, as well as for fuelwood and fodder (Choge et al., 2002; de Souza Nascimentoa, 2014). Its competitive advantage over other vegetation is based on its ability to fix nitrogen and its tolerance against drought and soil saline condition (Felker et al., 1981; Khan et al., 1986; Singh 1996). Its thorniness and bushy habit enable it to quickly block paths and make whole areas impenetrable for human and livestock. P. juliflora tree is 3-12 m tall, with spreading woody cylindrical branches. It is more or less round- or flat-topped with persistent green foliage and somewhat spiny (Burkart, 1976).The plant grows in a wide range of soils - from sandy to clayey soils. It is generally found in areas where water and soil fertility are the principal agents limiting plant growth. Prosopis species are generally cross-pollinated (Simpson, 1977), although some limited self- pollination (4%) has been observed in P. juliflora (Sareen and Yadav, 1987). The tree produces a very large numbers of flowers, but few are fertile with high rates of ovary abortion (Goel and Behl, 1995). Negative impacts of the tree include loss in agricultural and pasture productivity, biodiversity loss due to its suppression power, and deaths of livestock due to eating of the pods produced by the tree (Choge et al., 2002). Its pollen has been identified among the respiratory allergens in tropical countries (Killian and McMichael, 2004; Dhyani et al., 2006). Positive benefits include production of fuelwood, charcoal, timber and sale of the pods to the feed processing industry (Maundu et al., 2009). The tree is also widely planted for soil conservation, hedgerows, and as an ornamental tree (Pasiecznik et al., 2001).This study intended to identify areas already infested with the tree in Rombo, Mwanga, and Same districts; and to relate their spatial distribution with biophysical factors such as soils, lithology, landforms, and agroecological zones.Item Effect of in situ soil water harvesting techniques and local plant nutrient sources on grain yield of drought-resistant sorghum varieties in Semi-Arid Zone, Tanzania(Springer International Publishing Switzerland, 2015) Kilasara, M.; Boa, M. E.; Swai, E. Y.; Sibuga, K. P.; Massawe, B. H. J.; Kisetu, E.Aridity is becoming a key threat to more than 500 million people who depend on agriculture for their livelihood in semi-arid areas worldwide. Climate change represents a significant threat to current agricultural production, and consequently to farmers’ livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. The compounded effects of climate change, population pressure and change in dietary demands will further threaten fragile natural resources and accelerate land degradation processes. Poverty and hunger are still characteristics of sub-Saharan African countries in specific areas frequently hit by drought including the central zone of Tanzania. Typical characteris- tics of these areas are periodic to frequent dry spells that lead to crop failure, food shortage and lasting poverty. In Tanzania, the central regions of Dodoma and Singida are frequently threatened by drought that causes crop failure. In Dodoma, Singida and Tabora, 45–55 % of the households are food insecure. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of combining selected soil water harvesting techniques and locally available plant nutrient sources (FYM and urea-treated local phosphate rock, Minjingu Mazao) on the grain yield of early maturing and drought-resistant sorghum varieties (Wahi and Hakika). The trials were conducted at Mbande village, Kongwa District and Ikhanoda village, Singida Rural District in Tanzania. A split-split plot design setup was used in this study. The main plots were tillage methods, which were infiltration pit (PI), tied-ridging (TR) and flat cultivation (FC). The sub-plots were the fertilizers, which were farmyard manure and Minjingu Mazao, and the sub-sub plots were the two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) varieties: Wahi and Hakika. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Treatment differences were separated using least significant differences (LSD) at p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001. At the Ikhanoda study site, when Minjingu Mazao was applied, the Wahi grain yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in PI (2,414 kg ha 1 ) and FC (1,126 kg ha 1 ) than in TR treatment (648 kg ha 1 ). In contrast, with Hakika, TR significantly (p < 0.05) outperformed other water harvesting methods with the highest grain yield (3,199 kg ha 1 ). The PI treatment recorded the highest grain yield (2,789 kg ha 1 under Wahi and 3,223 kg ha 1 under Hakika) when FYM was applied at 5 t ha 1 . The grain yield of both varieties under FYM and all water harvesting techniques, including FC, did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). However, Hakika under PI had the best yield (3,223 kg ha 1 ) while Wahi under FC registered the lowest yield (2,573 kg ha 1 ). In the absence of FYM or Minjingu Mazao, the grain yield showed the following trend: FC (1,660 kg ha 1 , 1,863 kg ha 1 ) > PI (1,234 kg ha 1 , 1,387 kg ha 1 ) > TR (875 kg ha 1 , 930 kg ha 1 ) for Wahi and Hakika, respectively. At the Mbande site, the Wahi variety had a significantly higher grain yield (p < 0.05) in the FC treatment (1058.6 kg ha 1 ) than TR (543 kg ha 1 ) and PI (320.3 kg ha 1 ) when FYM was applied. With the application of 5 tons ha 1 FYM, the Wahi variety gave a significantly (p < 0.05) higher grain yield (1320.2 kg ha 1 ) in the TR treatment but the lowest in the FC treatment (476.6 kg ha 1 ). With the Hakika variety, the grain yield was higher (1773.4 kg ha 1 ) in TR and FC than in PI (890.6 kg ha 1 ). The superiority of the FC treatment in the absence of external nutrient input is attributed to topsoil that is slightly richer in nutrients com- pared to the rest of the treatments in which the poorer subsoil is part of the root zone. External nutrient input might have compensated for nutrient deficiencies and thus attenuated the treatment differences. This study demonstrated that in the absence of external sources of plant nutrients such as FYM and Minjingu Mazao, FC performed better than PI and TR. With external nutrient input, the grain yield varied due to water harvesting practice and site. At Ikhanoda, PI was superior to the other treatments while at Mbande, TR outperformed the other treatments. The outcome of the use of rainwater harvesting technologies ought to be applied in well-characterized fields in terms of physical and bio-chemical soil characteristics for better results.Item Exploring alternatives for livestock production in Lushoto, Tanzania: Playing the Transformation Game(2018-09) Pfeifer, C.; Morris, J.; Soka, G.; Moses, E. A.; Mkiramweni, N. P.; Omari, A.; Msoka, E.; Kahamba, J. S.; Sengelela, M. L.; Mdoembazi, H.; Massawe, B. H. J.; Mahimbo, O.This report presents the design for and preliminary results from the second ResLeSS workshop in Tanzania. The workshop is focused around the development of socio-economic indicators that are shared between stakeholders, and a “Transformation Game” that engages stakeholders in scenario development and assessment focused on the CLEANED environmental impact simulation tool. This approach enabled participants to engage with the knowledge about higher-yielding dairy production and an opportunity to plan for the future. An explicit focus on equity, through the design of the workshops and Game, and the treatment of economic indicators that encompass wider perceptions of value than finance alone, helped ensure that dialogue was able to emerge rooted in an appreciation of the different perspectives held by stakeholders. The Game opened a space for discussion that has yielded important insights for future development planning and was valued by the workshop participants. Participant feedback makes clear that the workshop developed new knowledge and achieved the objective of creating an opportunity for joint learning - participants welcomed the opportunity to plan for the future and to be challenged on what is feasible in the future. The workshop revealed a shared desire among stakeholders for livestock livelihoods to provide an improved standard of living and wellbeing, and a shared appreciation that improved feed and animal management coupled with shifting to higher-producing breeds can double milk production. There were different opinions on how much to change – “he who dares wins” pitted against a more cautious approach recognising that many in Lushoto would not cope with the increased costs of keeping pure exotic breeds. The transformation game provided rhetorical space to explore the two perspectives, although participants missed having a simple cost calculator. The results indicate a clear sense that participants are focused on meeting socio-economic goals (expressed for the most part in terms of increased income from livestock) and that, in the highland part of Lushoto, a strategy of moving to cross breeds and exotic breeds with good management presents an opportunity to reduce environmental impacts in Lushoto. Pressure on land and water is reduced and although greenhouse gas emissions increase, the emission intensity reduces. The move to zero-grazing will benefit soil fertility in Lushoto, as more manure can be applied to fields. However, three trade-offs arise: i) There are financial costs of keeping the high-producing breeds to take into account, as they are more vulnerable to disease and have high feed and maintenance requirements – and as production increases, the milk price in Lushoto may fall. Not everyone in the district will have the financial resources to invest in high-producing breeds. ii) The feedbasket for high-producing breeds relies mainly on planted fodder and purchased concentrates. In an area where land is restricted, the additional planted fodder will compete with existing crops, potentially affecting food security. Although there is a sense that planted fodder for milk would provide higher returns than ill-suited maize, producers will need to consider what is the best use of their land. iii) The reliance on purchased concentrates effectively exports the environmental impact, allowing for the reduced pressure in Lushoto. Although this benefits Lushoto, national planning should take this into consideration. Overall, the workshop was a positive learning experience for all, providing an important opportunity to come together, but it is only the start of an ongoing conversation.Item Feasibility study of green harvest technology in the sugarcane farming in Tanzania, under the accompanying measures sugar protocol (2011 – 13)(Ministry of Agriculture, 2017) Massawe, B. H. J.; Mhoro, L.Sugarcane is a tall perennial grass of genus Saccharum. Plant remnants and DNA evidence suggest that sugar cane evolved in South East Asia (Horton et al., 2015), and it was domesticated in Papua New Guinea around 8000 BC (Hartemink and Kuniata 1996). Over the years, the crop has been distributed in other parts of the world including India, China, Europe, Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, South America, North America and Africa by seafarers, traders, crusaders, colonialists and missionaries (Fischer et al., 2008).Sugar cane performs well in tropical and subtropical climates. The most common cultivated species are S. officinarum L., S. barberi, S. sinense and S. edule. Morphologically, the plant is tall, erecting up to 5 or 6 m with multiple stems, normally branching at the base to make tillers. It is composed of four parts: roots, stalk, leaves and efflorescence (DSD, 2013).Item Involving small holder farmers in the agricultural land use planning process using Analytic Hierarchy Process in rice farming systems of Kilombero Valley, Tanzania(academic Journals, 2019-02-14) Massawe, B. H. J.; Kaaya, A. K.; Slater, B.Despite the truth that the agricultural land use planning exercises have so far covered small and fragmented part of the African continent, the involvement of farmers who are among the direct beneficiaries of the outputs have been limited. This work demonstrates the contributions of farmers on the land use planning process for rice production in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Analytic hierarchic process (AHP) was used to assign scores of comparative importance of attributes for a suitable land for rice production. Scoring was done by three groups: farmers, extension staff, and joint group comprising both farmers and extension staff. Joint group scores were considered more refined as they were generated by discussions and consensus between the two groups. Results showed that the three groups sequentially ranked the attributes the same. However, the attributes actual scores were different. The farmers’ scores were consistently close to the joint group’s scores compared to the extension staff group. The closeness suggests superiority and consistence of farmers’ perceptions of importance of the identified attributes used for this land use planning exercise. Thus, this study recommends more involvement of farmers in agricultural land use planning process for better and sustainable land use planning outputs.Item Mapping numerically classified soil taxa in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania using machine learning(Elsevier, 2016-11-24) Massawe, B. H. J.; Subburayalu, S. K.; Kaaya, A. K.; Winowiecki, L.; Slater, B. K.Inadequacy of spatial soil information is one of the limiting factors to making evidence-based decisions to improve food security and land management in the developing countries. Various digital soilmapping (DSM) techniques have been applied inmany parts of theworld to improve availability and usability of soil data, but less has been done in Africa, particularly in Tanzania and at the scale necessary tomake farmmanagement decisions. The Kilombero Valley has been identified for intensified rice production. However the valley lacks detailed and up-todate soil information for decision-making. The overall objective of this study was to develop a predictive soilmap of a portion of Kilombero Valley using DSM techniques. Two widely used decision tree algorithms and three sources of Digital ElevationModels (DEMs) were evaluated for their predictive ability. Firstly, a numerical classification was performed on the collected soil profile data to arrive at soil taxa. Secondly, the derived taxawere spatially predicted and mapped following SCORPAN framework using Random Forest (RF) and J48 machine learning algorithms. Datasets to train the model were derived from legacy soil map, RapidEye satellite image and three DEMs: 1 arc SRTM, 30 m ASTER, and 12 m WorldDEM. Separate predictive models were built using each DEM source. Mapping showed that RF was less sensitive to the training set sampling intensity. Results also showed that predictions of soil taxa using 1 arc SRTM and 12mWordDEMwere identical.We suggest the use of RF algorithmand the freely available SRTMDEMcombination formapping the soils for thewhole Kilombero Valley. This combination can be tested and applied in other areas which have relatively flat terrain like the Kilombero ValleyItem Phasing out plan for the accompanying measures sugar protocol (2011 – 13) projects(Bureau of Agricultural Consultancy and Advisory Service, Sokoine University of Agriculture,, 2018) Massawe, B. H. J.; Kahamba, J. S.Sugarcane production is an important subsector in Tanzania’s agricultural sector. It contributes approximately 35% of the gross output of the food-manufacturing sector and some 7 to 10% of total manufacturing value added. Being among the largest agro-processing industries in the country, the sugar subsector is a major employer with direct labour force of approximately 18,000 people, indirect labour force of 57,000 people with 75, 000 households and dependents. The Tanzanian sugar cane production can be categorized into two subsectors: outgrowers subsector and estate subsector. The outgrowers are associated with estates because they don’t own sugar processing mills, thus sell their crops to the mills owned by estate subsector. There are four major players in the estate subsector owning five processing plants. These are Kilombero Sugar Company (owning two mills) in Morogoro, Mtibwa Sugar Estates (MSE) also in Morogoro, TPC Ltd in Kilimanjaro, and Kagera Sugar Ltd in Kagera Large-scale plantations have been the predominant model for sugarcane production in Tanzania and elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, due to limited land for horizontal expansion of sugarcane estate farming, the sugar companies in Tanzania specifically Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL) and Mtibwa Sugar Estate in Morogoro region have strongly encouraged outgrowers production. Outgrowers schemes in Tanzania account for approximately 27% of all cane production and 48% respective mills’ throughput. However, their efficiency is hampered by several factors. Outgrowers production in Tanzania is constrained by several factors the main ones being poor management of outgrowers’ associations, poor infrastructure and haulage facilities, poor cane husbandry practices, lack of access to finance to invest in sugarcane production, high harvesting and production costs, and fire outbreaks in outgrowers’ fields before harvesting, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Despite the challenges faced, outgrower production is seen as an appropriate model to increase sugarcane production hence fill the existing supply gap of sugar in the country. Tanzania was affected by the reform of the European Sugar Market. The government developed a National Strategy on how to adjust to new EU Sugar market regime. The EU Commission in response outlined a strategy for the period 2006-2013 on how to support National plans for adjusting to the new price regime and drafted a Multi-annual Indicative programme for the period 2007-2010 thereby improving Tanzania’s competitiveness with other sugar-producing countries. The current programme known as Accompanying Measures Protocol (AMSP) 2011-2013 builds on the achievements of the previous Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2007-2010. It has been designed in line with the MIP 2011-2013 and it takes stock of the new Sugar Industry Development Plan and Strategy (SIDPS) 2011/12-2015/16.Item Report on agronomic practices and soil fertility analysis for improved maize production in Kiteto and Kongwa Districts in Tanzania(USAID & Feed the Future, 2012-11-13) Massawe, B. H. J.As the pillar of both the domestic and the export economy, the agricultural sector in Tanzania engages about 80 percent of the labor force. The Tanzania’s agriculture economy is dominated by food production which accounts for about 85 percent of over 5 million hectares cultivated per year. Maize is the most important staple food in Tanzania and in the East Africa region in general. In Tanzania, it accounts for 31 per cent of the total food production and constitutes more than 75 per cent of the cereal consumption in the country. The crop is cultivated on an average of two million hectares, which is about 45% of the cultivated area in Tanzania (Katinila et al., 1998). Maize represents about 30 per cent of the value of crop production in the country and 10 per cent of total value added in agricultural sector respectively (Sassi, 2004). The crop provides 60% of dietary calories and more than 50% of utilizable protein to the Tanzanian population. Maize is not only a staple crop in surplus regions but a cash crop as well. About 85% of the maize produced in Tanzania is grown by peasants whose farms are less than 10 ha. Smallholder productivity is very low and highly variable, ranging from 0.01t/ha to 6.77t/ha, averaging 1.19t/ha. This low level of productivity is said to be due to low levels of education, lack of extension services, limited capital, land fragmentation, and unavailability and high input prices (Msuya et al, 2008) Studies carried out by Isinika et al (2003) and MAFC (2006) show that smallholder maize productivity in the country is suffering due to the fact that, most smallholders do not practice high-yield farming methods, and produce mainly for subsistence. The Poverty and Human Development Report of 2007 (R&AWG, 2007) showed that 87 percent of Tanzanian farmers interviewed by the research and analysis group under Tanzania's NSGRP said that they were not using chemical fertilizers; 77 percent said that they were not using improved seeds; 72 percent said that they were not using pesticides, herbicides or insecticides (agrochemicals), due to the high costs of agricultural inputs and services. Kongwa and Kiteto maize farmers are not exceptional. To increase maize productivity under small scale farming, identification of gaps between what is recommended to exploit the production potential and what is practiced by small scale farmers is required. This report covers a work done in maize producing areas of Kongwa district in Dodoma region and Kiteto district in Manyara region of Tanzania. The two districts share a common border. The report is a prelude to a soil test exercise which intends to assist in providing site specific soil fertility status and recommendations for soil and fertilizers management in the identified maize producing areas of Kongwa and Kiteto districts. Specifically, the report covers: a) a review of current fertilizer and soil management recommendations for maize in the study area; b) a review of current maize farming practices and their effect on soil fertility depletion in the study area; c) an analysis of soil variability within the study area in order to establish different sampling units (sites); and d) site specific fertility status and management recommendations for improved maize production based on soil test results.Item Report on agronomic practices and soil fertility analysis for improved rice production in the Kilombero and Wami Valley Area in Tanzania(USAID & Feed the Future, 2012-11-13) Massawe, B. H. J.Tanzanian economy is dominated by smallholder agriculture accounting for more than 90% of rural employment with food crop production dominating the agriculture economy. Rice is the second most important cereal crop in Tanzania after maize and the majority of rice farmers depend on it both for food and cash (Bucheyeki et al., 2011; RLDC, 2011). Tanzania rank second as a largest producer of rice in Southern Africa after Madagascar with production level of 818,000 tons produced from 681,000 ha (USDA world rice statistics, 2007). Like in other food crop production, most of the rice production in Tanzania is undertaken by small scale farming. Small scale rice farming is characterized by many small holder farmers, cultivating small farms (0.5 to 10 acres), whereby rain fed accounts for 71% and traditional irrigation accounts for 29% of rice grown in Tanzania (RLDC, 2011). These small scale farmers use no or low inputs. The major constraints facing the rice production sector includes erratic weather condition and declining land productivity due to application of poor technology, inaccessibility of improved seeds, inherent low soil fertility and poor soil fertility management practices. As a result of these factors the average rice yield per unit area under small scale farms is 1.0 to 1.5 t ha-1. These yields are lower than yield in the developed countries which hikes to over 10 t ha-1 in some seasons (Bucheyeki et al., 2011). To increase rice productivity under small scale farming, identification of gaps between what is recommended for adequate rice production and what is practiced by small scale farmers is required. Most of the current recommendations in soil fertility management in rice fields are blanket. This is not helpful in extension services because as matter of fact, soils are variable and need different packages for their improvements in order to intensify rice production. Therefore, a survey at a somehow detailed scale is important to have area specific recommendations. This report therefore presents: a) Review of current fertilizer and soil management recommendations for rice in the study area; b) Current rice farming practices and their effect on soil fertility depletion in the study area; and c) Site specific soil fertility status and recommendation of measures to be taken in order to improve rice productivity.Item Soil survey at Mtibwa area proposed site for new sugar factory investment(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2018) Massawe, B. H. J.; Mdoe, L. L.Agriculture is the major employer in Tanzania, accounting for over 60% of the total national employment (URT, 2016.). Most of the employment is attributed to food crops production, mainly done by small scale farmers. Efforts are being done by the government in collaboration with other development partners to improve involvement of small scale holders in cash crop production. The cash crops include sugar cane. The sugar industry is a major employer with direct labour force of approximately 18,000 people, indirect labour force of 57,000 people with 75,000 households and dependants (BACAS, 2015). The current annual demand of sugar in Tanzania is estimated at 590,000 mt, whereas the production is 300,000 mt of raw sugar annually. The deficit of about 290,000 mt is met through importations. Large-scale plantations have been the predominant model for sugarcane production in Tanzania and elsewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, due to limited land for horizontal expansion of sugarcane estate farming, the sugar companies in Tanzania specifically Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL) and Mtibwa Sugar Estate in Morogoro region have strongly encouraged outgrowers production (Chongela, 2015). Outgrowers schemes in Tanzania account for approximately 27% of all cane production and 48% respective mills’ throughput. However, their efficiency is hampered by several factors. Outgrowers production in Tanzania is constrained by several factors the main ones being poor management of outgrowers’ associations, poor infrastructure and haulage facilities, poor cane husbandry practices, lack of access to finance to invest in sugarcane production, high harvesting and production costs, and fire outbreaks in outgrowers’ fields before harvesting, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. Despite the challenges faced, outgrower production is seen as an appropriate model to increase sugarcane production hence fill the existing supply gap of sugar in the country (UNCTAD, 2006). In general, small scale sugar cane outgrowers fields are performing badly in terms of crop performance compared to the large scale plantations they surround (Massawe and Mhoro, 2017). This is mainly due to poor agronomic practices and unguided decisions on soil fertility management. Large scale plantations perform routine soil tests which help them make informed decision on soil fertility management; something which is generally lacking in case of small scale outgrowers. Accurate information on soil types and their distribution on land is important for identifying potential of the soils and the soil-related constraints to high and sustainable production of sugarcane. Many outgrowers of Mtibwa are currently abandoning sugar cane production mainly because of unreliable market of the cane. The Sugar Board of Tanzania (SBT) reports that the miller at Mtibwa Sugar Estate is currently underperforming resulting to unreliable market to outgrowers cane. In response to this, SBT in collaboration with Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) is advocating starting of a mini sugar cane milling industry in Mtibwa area to increase market reliability of outgrowers’ harvested sugar cane. To appeal to investors, SBT found it of importance to do soil survey in outgrowers farms around proposed investment site to establish the suitability and potential of the area for sugar cane production.Item Variability of soil organic carbon with landforms and land use in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania(Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 2016-09) Meliyo, J. L.; Msanya, B. M.; Kimaro, D. N.; Massawe, B. H. J.; Hieronimo, P.; Mulungu, L. S.; Deckers, J.; Gulinck, H.This study was carried out to assist in the formulation of conservation technologies for landscape sustained productivity in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Conventional soil survey methods were used to develop a base map on which 55 soil profile pits were randomly located on representative landforms and land use mapping units. Soil samples were collected from topsoils for soil carbon analysis using the wet digestion method. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were used to establish relationships between landforms, land use and soil organic carbon levels. Results showed that carbon levels ranged between 0.55 and 10.8% for bush land and forest plantations in the plain and plateau, respectively. Under cultivation, soil organic carbon (SOC) levels varied between 1.03 and 6.34% for mid-slopes and lower slopes of the plateau respectively. The average soil organic carbon in the vegetable growing valley bottoms was 4.5% while in the forest plantation was 5.5% with minimum and maximum of 0.8 and 10.8% respectively. Linear regression model analysis indicated that factors influencing variability of SOC apart from land use are: slope form, soil pH, electrical conductivity and CECclay. It was concluded that soil organic matter in the study area is mainly determined by elevation, slope form and type of land use and management. Introduction of soil erosion control measures and incorporation of crop residues to areas where soil organic matter has been depleted were recommended for sustainable crop production.