Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T15:52:24.198Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Erosion effects on soil moisture and corn yield on two soils at Mlingano, Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

A.J. Tenge ,
F.B.S. Kaihura ,
R. Lal  and
B.R. Singh
A.J. Tenge
Affiliation:
Soil Physicist, National Soil Service, P.O. Box 5088, Tanga, Tanzania;
F.B.S. Kaihura
Affiliation:
Kaihura is Soil Scientist, National Soil Service, P.O. Box 5088, Tanga, Tanzania;
R. Lal*
Affiliation:
Professor, School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210;
B.R. Singh
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Soil and Water Science, Agricultural University of Norway, P.O. Box 5028, N-1432, Aas, Norway
*
Corresponding author is R. Lal (lal.1@osu.edu).
Get access

Abstract

Soil erosion is a major threat to sustaining agricultural production in Tanzania. However, quantitative information is scanty on its effects on yields of major crops for principal soils and management practices. We conducted this study to determine erosion effects on soil moisture, related properties and corn yield on Tropeptic Haplustox and Ultic Haplustalf soils at Mlingano in Tanzania. Four erosion classes (least, slight, moderate, and severe) on Tropeptic Haplustox and three erosion classes (slight, moderate, and severe) on Ultic Haplustalf were established according to the thickness of the Ap horizon under natural field conditions. Accelerated soil erosion reduced soil moisture content, soil organic carbon, available water capacity and water use efficiency. Mean volumetric soil moisture content (average of both soils) during the growing season was 23.3% for severe, 24.8% for moderate, and 25.7% for slight erosion. Mean soil organic carbon content was 1.15% for severe, 1.64% for moderate and 1.97% for slight erosion. Mean available water capacity was 2.6 cm for severe, 3.5 cm for moderate, and 4.0 cm for slight erosion. Soil bulk density and excessive degree days of soil temperature above 25°C increased with severity of erosion. These adverse changes accentuated constraints on crop growth and reduced corn (Zea mays) yield on severely eroded soil by 45% and 59% for Tropeptic Haplustox and Ultic Haplustalf soils, respectively. The water use efficiency of corn was 21.6 kg ha-1 cm-1 in the least eroded class versus 17 kg ha-1 cm-1 in the severely eroded class for the Tropeptic Haplustox, and 23 kg ha-1 cm-1 in the slightly eroded and 18.1 kg ha-1 cm-1 in the severely eroded class for Ultic Haplustalf.

Keywords

soil erosionproductivitysoil physical properties
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , June 1998 , pp. 83 - 89
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Ahren, C.D. 1991. Meteorology Today. An Introduction to Weather, Climate and Environment. West Publishing Company, New York, N.Y.Google Scholar
2.Blake, G.R., and Hartge, K.H.. 1986. Bulk density. In Klute, A. (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. Amer. Soc. Agronomy and Soil Science Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
3.Chang, J-h. 1968. Climate and Agriculture: An Ecological Survey. Aldine Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois.Google Scholar
4.Devore, J., and Peck, R.. 1993: Statistics. The Exploration and Analysis of Data. Duxbury Press, Belmont, California.Google Scholar
5.Express. 1993. Maize production estimates from 1983–1992. 11 28–12 1. DSM, Tanzania. p. 15.Google Scholar
6.FAO/UNESCO. 1988. Soil Map of the World. Vol. VI: Africa. UNESCO, Paris. p. 229.Google Scholar
7.FAO. 1984. Crop Water Requirements. Irrigation and Drainage. Paper No. 24. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy.Google Scholar
8.Gee, G.W., and Bauder, J.W.. 1986. Particle size analysis. In Klute, A. (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. Amer. Soc. Agronomy and Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
9.Hanks, R.J., and Aschroft, G.L.. 1980. Applied Soil Physics. Advanced Series in Agricultural Sciences 8. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.Google Scholar
10.Helberg, U. 1980. The acceptance of erosion control measures. Possibilities and problems of soil conservation through agroforestry systems by small farmers in the Usambara mountains of Tanzania. Tropenlandwirtschaft, Beiheft 39.Google Scholar
11.Hillel, D. 1982. Introduction to Soil Physics. Academic Press, Inc., London, U.K.Google Scholar
12.Kaihura, F. 1991. Soil erosion and conservation studies in Tanzania: Opportunities and strategies for research. National Soil Service, Ministry of Agric., Tanga, Tanzania.Google Scholar
13.Kaihura, F.B.S., and Mkavidanda, T.A.. 1994a. Impacts of past erosion on crop yield, soil physical and chemical properties on a Chromic Luvisol at Mlingano, Tanzania. National Soil Service, Mlingano, Tanga, Tanzania.Google Scholar
14.Kaihura, F.B.S., Kullaya, I., and Kilasara, M.. 1994b. Identification and characterization of agricultural lands with different stages of past erosion in Tanzania. National Soil Service, Mlingano, Tanga, Tanzania.Google Scholar
15.Kalaghe, A., Misani, J., and Johnson, H.. 1988. Conservation of catchment forest in the Usambara mountains. J. Tanzania Assoc. Foresters 6:37–47.Google Scholar
16.Kilasara, M., Kullaya, I.K., Kaihura, F.B.S., Aune, J.B., Singh, B.R., and Lal, R.. 1995. Impact of past soil erosion on land productivity in related ecological regions in Tanzania. Norwegian J. Agric. Sciences 21:71–79.Google Scholar
17.Klute, A. 1986. Water retention. Laboratory method. In Klute, A. (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. Amer. Soc. Agronomy and Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
18.Lal, R. 1987. Soil Erosion Research Methodology. Soil and Water Conservation Soc., Ankeny, Iowa.Google Scholar
19.Lal, R. 1995a. Erosion-crop productivity relationships for soils of Africa. Soil Sci. Soc. J. 59:661–667CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Lal, R. 1995b. Development in East Africa, Discussion paper: Comment. Geoderma 67:159–164.Google Scholar
21.Mokma, D.L., and Sietz, M.A.. 1992. Effects of soil erosion on corn yields on Marlette soils in south central Michigan. J. Soil and Water Conservation 47:325–327.Google Scholar
22.Nelson, D.W., and Sommers, L.E.. 1986. Carbon and organic matter. In Page, A. (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2. Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. Amer. Soc. Agronomy and Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
22.Ngatunga, E.N. 1984. Soil erosion studies at Mlingano, on the Eastern Usambara uplands. M.Sc. thesis. Dept. of Soil Science, Univ. of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Google Scholar
23.Olson, K.R., and Nizeyimana, E. 1988. Effects of erosion on the corn yields of seven Illinois Soils. J. Production Agric. 1:13–19.Google Scholar
24.Rapp, A., Berry, L., and Temple, P.. 1972. Studies of soil erosion and sedimentation in Tanzania. Dept. of Physical Geography, Univ. of Uppsala, Sweden.Google Scholar
25.Rhoton, D.L., and Tyler, D.D.. 1990. Erosion induced changes in properties of a Fragipan soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 54:223–228.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
26.Soil Science Society of America, 1990. Glossary of Soil Science Terms. SSSA, Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
27.Steel, R.G., and Torrie, T.H.. 1980. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y.Google Scholar
28.Sterling, A.T., and Jackson, R.D.. 1986. Soil temperature. In Klute, A. (ed). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1. Physical and Mineralogical Methods. Agronomy Monograph No. 9. Amer. Soc. Agronomy and Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, Wisconsin.Google Scholar
29.Tenge, A.J. 1995. Erosion effects on soil moisture and temperature regimes and crop yield on Eastern Usambara Uplands in Tanzania. M.Sc. thesis. School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State Univ., Columbus.Google Scholar
30.Topp, G.C. 1980. Electromagnetic determination of soil water content. Measurements in coaxial transmission lines. Water Resources 16:574–582.Google Scholar