Mlahagwa, Moses Raphael2026-02-172026-02-172001https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7317DissertationA field study was conducted to assess the suitability of the soils of Madiira Research Institute farm for the introduction of growing and production of vegetable soybeans and mungbeans in Tanzania. The specific intention was to assess the fertility status of the soils, determine the plant uptake of the essential nutrient elements from the soils, and try to suggest measures and soil fertility management strategies for the sustainable and optimal production of vegetable soybean and mungbean production. Composite soil samples for the determination of the physical and chemical properties were sampled from two sites selected on the farm. About 400 m2 of land for each site was plowed and then harrowed and each site was divided into three 8 m x 6 m plots/blocks for four soybeans and for five mungbeans, grown at a spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm and replicated three times respectively. Just before flowering nine plants of each line and from each block were harvested for dry matter yield determinations and total plant nutrient analysis. The other plants were left on the field to grow to maturity for grain yield determinations. The soils were found to be medium acidic, with medium CEC, OC, exchangeable Ca, and Mg, low levels of total N, and high levels of exchangeable K and Bray-1 P. The DTPA extractable Fe and Cu were above the critical limit, while Zn and Mn were medium. The plant analysis for soybeans showed that P and Zn correlated positively with the dry matter yields while total N, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Cu and Mn correlated negatively with the same. Nitrogen, Mg, K, Fe, Cu and Mn correlated positively with grain yields while Ca, Zn and P correlated negatively with the same. The plant analysis for mungbeans showed that N, Mg, K, Zn and Cu correlated positively with dry matter yields while P, Ca, Fe and Mn correlated negatively with the same. Nitrogen, Mg, K, Zn, Cu and Mn correlated positively with grain yields while Ca, Fe and P correlated negatively with the same. The soybean performances based on fresh grain yields were in the following order: GC 84051-32-1 AGS 338 > AGS 329 > AGS 292 corresponding to 14730.0, 8861.6, 6447.0, and 6364.3 kg/ha respectively, while mungbean performances were: VC 6173(b-10) VC 6148(50-12) > VC 6372(45-8) > VC 6379(232-1) > KANTI corresponding to 11178.0, 10549.3, 9167.6, 8547.0 and 6553.3 kg/ha respectively. The soils analytical data indicate that the soils are of medium fertility status, that is medium levels of CEC (16.2-16.8 cmol (+)/kg soil), OC (1.3-1.5%), Ca (8.0-8.1 cmol (+)/kg soil), Mg (2.7-3.0 cmol (+)/kg soil) and low levels of total N (0.190.22%), hence can support the growth of soybeans and mungbeans in the short-term period. Recommendations are made to publicise the production of the best two high yielding soybean lines (i.e. GC 84051-32-1 and AGS 338) and mungbean lines (i.e. VC 6173(b-10) and VC 6148(50-12). Seed inoculation for effective Ni-fixation is recommended. On-site incorporation of the legume vegetable crop residues into the soils and further experiments and use of fertilizer rates are recommended for the sustainable soybean and mungbean production.enSoilsArushaTanzaniaSoybeansMungbeansThesis