Potential of soil fertility management to improve essential mineral nutrient concentrations in vegetables in Dodoma and Kilombero, Tanzania
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
Abstract
Collective efforts to fight mineral nutrient malnutrition in humans require
consideration of soil fertility management practices (SFMP) in vegetable pro duction. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between SFMP and
vegetable nutrient concentration for human health in farming systems of
Tanzania. Soil and vegetable samples collected from vegetable growing areas
in Kilombero and Dodoma were analyzed for chemical properties and mineral
nutrient concentration. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and correla tion analysis were employed. The results showed that soil pH in Kilombero
ranged from 6.04 to 6.8 and in Dodoma ranged from 6.23 to 8.58. The organic
C was low, ranged from 0.10% to 1.87%. All soils studied had sufficient Zn
(0.45 to 29.3 mg/kg), Cu (0.71 to 3.23 mg/kg), Fe (3.70 to 171.7 mg/kg) and
Mn (2.84 to 41.38 mg/kg). Zinc concentration in all vegetables ranged from
12.57 to 134.54 mg/kg, 14% of vegetables had low Zn (<20 mg/kg) for human
health. The Cu concentration in vegetables ranged from 0.07 to 52.37 mg/kg,
and vegetables from Kilombero had very low Cu (<0.10 mg/kg) for plant and
human nutrition. Vegetable Fe and Mn concentration ranged from 152.95 to
1780 mg/kg and 35.10 to 321.82 mg/kg, respectively. The SFMP used did not
affect mineral micronutrients concentration in vegetables, but affected soil Zn,
Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations. Soil pH, Zn, and CEC correlated with vegeta ble Cu, K, Mg, Zn, P and Fe concentrations, and differed among soils. There fore, soil properties differed with SFMP, and both determined mineral con centrations in vegetables for human health.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Soil Fertility, Nutrient Concentration, Human Mineral Nutrition, Vegetables