Characterization of Sukumawera and Kisarawe bat guano from Tanzania as soil amendment and source of plant nutrients
| dc.contributor.author | Twisege, Andrew | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-05T12:13:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-05T12:13:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2016 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Guanos are excrements of birds and/or bats enriched with varied nutrients. In Tanzania. guanos are found in a number of places but are not fully utilized due to lack of information on their agronomic potential. Therefore, a study was conducted on Sukumawera and Kisarawe bat guano to assess their agronomic potential as soil amendment and source of plant nutrients for maize production. Elemental composition of the studied guanos were analysed al the Geological Survey Laboratories in Dodoma using inductively' coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Their physico chemical properties were determined at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Soil Science Laboratories. Pot experiments were carried out at SUA to assess maize response to soil applied with varying amounts of bat guano. Number of leaves, plant height. biomass weight, nutrient concentrations in soils and plants were among the variables assessed. The ICP-OES results indicated that Sukumawera had high level of P ranging from 20 - 41%. while in Kisarawe bat guano its P value was 7 - 15%. Similarly. Sukumawera bat guano had higher level of S (19 - 39%) as compared to that of Kisarawe (6 - 13%). Laboratory analysis found that both guanos are slightly acidic to strongly acidic (pH 4.2 - 6.7). There was significant (p < 0.05) increase in soil nutrient concentrations and nutrients uptake by maize as guano rate increased. Howexer. the best plant performance was observed at a ratio of 20 : 0.5 for Sukumawera and 20 : I for Kisarawe guano. Kisarawe bat guano was superior to Sukumawera in plant performance. The study revealed that high rates of guano application (> 20 : 1) caused poor maize response. It was concluded that both Sukamawera and Kisarawe bat guano are suitable for alkaline soils amendment and source of plant nutrients when applied in small amounts (< 20 : I) for good plant performance. It is recommended that field trials should be carried out to assess the actual maize plant response in the natural environment. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The Alliance for the Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7362 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Sukumawera | |
| dc.subject | Kisarawe | |
| dc.subject | Tanzania | |
| dc.subject | Soil amendment | |
| dc.subject | Source plant nutrients | |
| dc.title | Characterization of Sukumawera and Kisarawe bat guano from Tanzania as soil amendment and source of plant nutrients | |
| dc.type | Thesis |