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Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania

Received: 18 December 2016    Accepted: 4 January 2017    Published: 2 March 2017
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Abstract

This study was carried out in Kilombero District, Tanzania with the objective of characterizing the soils in terms of their morphology, genesis, physico-chemical properties and classification. Three pedons KISA-P1, MKU-P1 and MBA-P1 were identified within the Kilombero Valley, dug, described and sampled. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from designated pedogenic horizons for physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory. Using both field and laboratory data soils were classified using both USDA Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base for Soil Resources schemes of classification. Results show that the three pedons were developed under Isohyperthemic temperature and Aquic moisture regimes. All pedons were deep (100 - 120 cm). Whereas Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had sandy clay loam topsoils overlying sandy clay subsoils, Pedon MKU-P1 had clayey texture throughout its profile depth. All pedons had low chromas of ≤ 3 and redoximorphic features in form of abundant mottles particularly in the subsoils. Topsoils of Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had dominantly friable to very friable moist consistence while those of Pedon MKU-P1 had very firm moist consistence. Subsoil moist consistence varied from firm to extremely firm (Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1) and from friable to very firm (Pedon MBA-P1). Structures were dominantly weak to moderate subangular blocky in all studied soils but some horizons were structureless single grained and massive. Soil reaction ranged from extremely acid (topsoil of MBA-P1) to mildly alkaline (subsoil of MKU-P1) with pH values of 4.44 and 6.73 respectively. Topsoil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in the studied pedons were low (0.66 to 1.4%) and very low to low (0.08 to 0.19%) respectively. CECsoil values were rated as low to medium ranging from 8.4 to 23.8 cmol (+)/kg respectively in Pedon KISA-P1 and Pedon MKU-P1. Percent BS values varied between and within studied pedons and ranged from low < 50% to high > 50%. Studied soils manifested nutrient imbalances in respect of basic cations. On the overall, fertility of the studied soils was rated as low to medium. According to USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1 classified as Inceptisols, equivalent to Cambisols in WRB for Soil Resources whereas Pedon MBA-P1 classified as Entisols equivalent to Fluvisols. All three sites were recommended for paddy production.

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 5, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11
Page(s) 1-11
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Physico-Chemical Properties, USDA Soil Taxonomy, WRB, Pedons, Kilombero District, Tanzania

References
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    Asheri Mwamba Kalala, Balthazar Michael Msanya, Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri, Johnson Mashambo Semoka. (2017). Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 5(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11

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    Asheri Mwamba Kalala; Balthazar Michael Msanya; Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri; Johnson Mashambo Semoka. Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania. Am. J. Agric. For. 2017, 5(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11

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    AMA Style

    Asheri Mwamba Kalala, Balthazar Michael Msanya, Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri, Johnson Mashambo Semoka. Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania. Am J Agric For. 2017;5(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11,
      author = {Asheri Mwamba Kalala and Balthazar Michael Msanya and Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri and Johnson Mashambo Semoka},
      title = {Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania},
      journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-11},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20170501.11},
      abstract = {This study was carried out in Kilombero District, Tanzania with the objective of characterizing the soils in terms of their morphology, genesis, physico-chemical properties and classification. Three pedons KISA-P1, MKU-P1 and MBA-P1 were identified within the Kilombero Valley, dug, described and sampled. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from designated pedogenic horizons for physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory. Using both field and laboratory data soils were classified using both USDA Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base for Soil Resources schemes of classification. Results show that the three pedons were developed under Isohyperthemic temperature and Aquic moisture regimes. All pedons were deep (100 - 120 cm). Whereas Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had sandy clay loam topsoils overlying sandy clay subsoils, Pedon MKU-P1 had clayey texture throughout its profile depth. All pedons had low chromas of ≤ 3 and redoximorphic features in form of abundant mottles particularly in the subsoils. Topsoils of Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had dominantly friable to very friable moist consistence while those of Pedon MKU-P1 had very firm moist consistence. Subsoil moist consistence varied from firm to extremely firm (Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1) and from friable to very firm (Pedon MBA-P1). Structures were dominantly weak to moderate subangular blocky in all studied soils but some horizons were structureless single grained and massive. Soil reaction ranged from extremely acid (topsoil of MBA-P1) to mildly alkaline (subsoil of MKU-P1) with pH values of 4.44 and 6.73 respectively. Topsoil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in the studied pedons were low (0.66 to 1.4%) and very low to low (0.08 to 0.19%) respectively. CECsoil values were rated as low to medium ranging from 8.4 to 23.8 cmol (+)/kg respectively in Pedon KISA-P1 and Pedon MKU-P1. Percent BS values varied between and within studied pedons and ranged from low  50%. Studied soils manifested nutrient imbalances in respect of basic cations. On the overall, fertility of the studied soils was rated as low to medium. According to USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1 classified as Inceptisols, equivalent to Cambisols in WRB for Soil Resources whereas Pedon MBA-P1 classified as Entisols equivalent to Fluvisols. All three sites were recommended for paddy production.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Pedological Characterization of Some Typical Alluvial Soils of Kilombero District, Tanzania
    AU  - Asheri Mwamba Kalala
    AU  - Balthazar Michael Msanya
    AU  - Nyambilila Abdallah Amuri
    AU  - Johnson Mashambo Semoka
    Y1  - 2017/03/02
    PY  - 2017
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11
    T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 11
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8591
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20170501.11
    AB  - This study was carried out in Kilombero District, Tanzania with the objective of characterizing the soils in terms of their morphology, genesis, physico-chemical properties and classification. Three pedons KISA-P1, MKU-P1 and MBA-P1 were identified within the Kilombero Valley, dug, described and sampled. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were taken from designated pedogenic horizons for physical and chemical analysis in the laboratory. Using both field and laboratory data soils were classified using both USDA Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base for Soil Resources schemes of classification. Results show that the three pedons were developed under Isohyperthemic temperature and Aquic moisture regimes. All pedons were deep (100 - 120 cm). Whereas Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had sandy clay loam topsoils overlying sandy clay subsoils, Pedon MKU-P1 had clayey texture throughout its profile depth. All pedons had low chromas of ≤ 3 and redoximorphic features in form of abundant mottles particularly in the subsoils. Topsoils of Pedons KISA-P1 and MBA-P1 had dominantly friable to very friable moist consistence while those of Pedon MKU-P1 had very firm moist consistence. Subsoil moist consistence varied from firm to extremely firm (Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1) and from friable to very firm (Pedon MBA-P1). Structures were dominantly weak to moderate subangular blocky in all studied soils but some horizons were structureless single grained and massive. Soil reaction ranged from extremely acid (topsoil of MBA-P1) to mildly alkaline (subsoil of MKU-P1) with pH values of 4.44 and 6.73 respectively. Topsoil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents in the studied pedons were low (0.66 to 1.4%) and very low to low (0.08 to 0.19%) respectively. CECsoil values were rated as low to medium ranging from 8.4 to 23.8 cmol (+)/kg respectively in Pedon KISA-P1 and Pedon MKU-P1. Percent BS values varied between and within studied pedons and ranged from low  50%. Studied soils manifested nutrient imbalances in respect of basic cations. On the overall, fertility of the studied soils was rated as low to medium. According to USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Pedons KISA-P1 and MKU-P1 classified as Inceptisols, equivalent to Cambisols in WRB for Soil Resources whereas Pedon MBA-P1 classified as Entisols equivalent to Fluvisols. All three sites were recommended for paddy production.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania; Tumbi Agricultural Research Institute (ARI-Tumbi), Tabora, Tanzania

  • Department of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Department of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

  • Department of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

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