Effect of method of terracing on some physical and chemical properties of soils of Mgeta, Morogoro, Tanzania
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Date
1992
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted on cultivated sandy
clay loam Chromic Cambisols at Mgeta on the slopes of Uluguru mountains. The objectives were to study the effects
of terracing methods on some soil physical and chemical
properties and to relate the results to crop performance
observed in the field. The main treatments consisted of
bench and ladder terraces. The subtreatments were three
positions on the slope, and five 10 cm interval soil depth
sections.
The physical properties assessed were particle
size analysis, bulk and particle densities and available
water capacity. The assessed chemical properties included
pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, carbon, organic total nitrogen, and available phosphorus.
There available were significant water capacity, increases in exchangeable clay, silt, calcium and magnesium contents and a decreasing trend in very coarse
sand particles along the slope under ladder terraces. In
the bench terraces, bulk density increased slightly while
total porosity decreased significantly along the slope.
Most of the soil physical and chemical properties from the bench terraces were significantly different along the slope, but lacked a defined trend, Exchangeable cations, total nitrogen, and organic carbon for the two main treatments showed a decreasing trend from surface to the bottom of the soil profile. Other soil physical and chemical properties lacked defined trends with depth. The causes of the observed trends in the bench and ladder terraces are respectively attributed to the mechanical movement of soil and gradual but continuous transportation of fine soil materials by water down the slope.
The variations in soil physical and chemical properties within and between the two treatments were attributed to the nature of the soils and methods used in the construction of the terraces. Variations in the studied soil properties account for the observed crop performance. In order to improve crop performance and maintain a sustainable crop production at Mgeta, several soil management and conservation measures are proposed.
Description
Master's Theses
Keywords
Physical properties, Chemical properties, Soils Science, Mgeta, Morogoro, Tanzania