Browsing by Author "Mhagama, Joseph"

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    Evaluation of banding methods and organic matter addition for improving dissolution and availability of phosphorus from Mijingu phosphate rock in two soils on contrasting characteristics
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2003) Mhagama, Joseph
    A study was conducted under pot and field conditions to evaluate the effects of Minjingu Phosphate Rock (MPR) banding and some manipulations within the band, on maize yields. The treatments were: varying depth of incorporating MPR, and organic materials (plant residues). They were evaluated for their effects on enhancement of dissolution and consequently availability of P from banded MPR in two soils with contrasting characteristics. The treatments tested were 20-cm MPR + O.M band, incorporated down to the 10 or 20cm depth, 20-cm MPR alone band, in corporated to the 10 or 20cm depth, 2-5cm width strip banded MPR, broadcasting MPR (only for field) and control, giving seven treatments for field and six treatments for pot experiment. The experiment was laid using Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Extractable P in soils, DM yields, plant P concentration, P uptake and grain yields were used to assess the effects of these treatments. The results of this study showed that some banding treatments significantly (P=0.05) increased dissolution and availability of P from MPR. For example, in the pot experiment, Minjingu PR plus organic matter increased DM yields from 3.17 to 56.32 g/pot and 7.13 to 76.24 g/pot, and P uptake from 2.75 to 83.24 mg/pot and 4.72 to 118.40 mg/pot for Sasanda and Magadu soil, respectively. Under field conditions, MPR + O.M treatments increased extractable P in the soil from 4.0 to 18.45 mg/kg and 5.39 to 79.84 mg/kg, and grain yields from 0.16 to 2.27 t/ha and 0.32 to 2.59 t/ha for Sasanda.and Magadu sites, respectively. This study *shows that banding of MPR can be a good method of MPR application in acid and high P fixing soils, especially when MPR is incorporated together with organic residues