Soils of Mtibwa sugar estate: some physical and chemical properties and their effect on crop performance under sprinkler irrigation
| dc.contributor.author | Tarimo, John Emanuel Rai | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-17T05:45:18Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-17T05:45:18Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1995 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | A study was conducted in Mtibwa Sugar Estate, Morogoro, to causes production. This for involved in sugarcane soil physical decline observed detailed characterization of affected areas and that of a bare area. Quality of water for irrigation was also studied. The results showed that the salt affected blocks have sandy loam topsoil overlying sandy clay subsoil of low permeability (0.5 - 0.9 m/day) . The electrical conductivity of saturation extract is low to medium (1.15 3.7 dS/m); the level of sodium is very high throughout the profiles of affected blocks (above 2.0 cmol( + )/kg); the calcium content is very low to low (1.10 - 3.39 cmol( + )/kg) while that of magnesium is moderate (1.5 - 2.39 cmol(+)/kg). j.t was Gleyic concluded that the soil of the affected fields is Cambisol Classification. It according was to classified FAO-UNESCO as Typic (1989) Tropaquept according to United States Department of Agriculture Soil Classification System (Soil Survey Staff, 1990). The soil of the non affected field was found to be in the subgroup Typic Ustipsamment (USDA Soil Taxonomy) . It wasclassified as Umbric Regosol (FAO-UNESCO Classification) . According to FAO (1976) land suitability classification, the affected fields studied are marginally suitable while the non affected field is moderately suitable. The electrical conductivity of the irrigation water is low (0.09 dS/m) and that of the groundwater of field 10E is medium (0.55 dS/m). The sodium content in irrigation water is low (0.2 meq/1) but very high (56.35 - 71.04 meq/1) in the groundwater of the affected fields. It was also noted that the chloride content of the groundwater of the affected fields is very high (145.0 - 236.0 meq/1). It was concluded that salinity, sodium and chloride toxicity are the main problems responsible for the declining sugarcane production at Mtibwa Sugar Estate. The Mtibwa Sugar Company is thus urged to look for means of correcting the observed problems for example by establishing a drainage system for the Estate. The adoption of this suggestion will of course be determined by the economics involved as will be reflected in the drainage plans and designs. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7423 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Mtibwa Sugar Estate | |
| dc.subject | Sugercane production | |
| dc.subject | Crop performance | |
| dc.subject | Chemical properties | |
| dc.title | Soils of Mtibwa sugar estate: some physical and chemical properties and their effect on crop performance under sprinkler irrigation | |
| dc.type | Thesis |