The Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release Potential of Selected Organic Materials Applied to Three Contrasting Soils of Kilimanjaro Region

G. P. Maro^1, , S. G. Mbwambo¹, H. E. Monyo¹ and E. J. Mosi¹

¹Tanzania Coffee Research Institute, P.O. Box 3004, Moshi, Tanzania

Cite this paper

G. P. Maro, S. G. Mbwambo, H. E. Monyo and E. J. Mosi. The Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release Potential of Selected Organic Materials Applied to Three Contrasting Soils of Kilimanjaro Region. World Journal of Agricultural Research. 2022; 10(3):76-81. doi: 10.12691/WJAR-10-3-3

Abstract

The nutrient release potential of selected types of organic materials available in a coffee farming system was studied with three contrasting soils of Kilimanjaro Region, to broaden the ISFM options. An incubation experiment was conducted at TaCRI Lyamungu screenhouse between June and November 2019. The design was split plot RCD, three soil types Humi-Umbric Nitisols from Lyamungo, Eutric Cambisols from Kilacha and Humi-Rhodic Luvisols from Kikafu Chini as main factors, and different organic additives (cattle manure and leaves of Tithonia diversifolia, Tephrosia vogelii, Vernonia subligera and Adhatoda engleriana) as sub-factors. The organics were dried, crushed, sieved in a 6 mm sieve, mixed with the soils at 2% organic to soil ratio, moistened to field capacity and incubated in 10 litre plastic containers at room temperature. Duplicate soil samples were taken at day 0, 3, 8, 15, 26, 45, 74, 112 and 180 and analyzed for NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and available P. The total amounts of nutrients released during the incubation period were subjected to Analysis of Variance using COSTAT Statistical Software, with means separated by Tukey’s HSD at p ≤ 0.05. The nutrient release trends were more or less the same in all the three soil types. In terms of NH₄-N, NO₃-N and P, soil types, additives and their interactions were very highly significant (p < 0.001). In all the soil types, the four organics are fairly comparable to manure and can be used as its substitute. It was noted that soils differ in their responsiveness to organic treatments. Also unveiled was the potential of the wild plants such as Adhatoda, available in the wilderness around Mt. Kilimanjaro and Usambaras, which could be domesticated and planted at hedgerows for ISFM purposes. It also encourages the use of the semi-domesticated hedgerow plants like Tithonia and Vernonia; and Tephrosia as temporary shade plants.

Keywords

organic materials, nutrient release, soil incubation, Kilimanjaro

Copyright

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References

[1]	Agrisystems (1998). The coffee sector strategy study for Tanzania. Report No. 3, Government of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. 97pp.
[2]	Baffes, J. (2003). Tanzania coffee sector: Constraints and challenges in Global environment. The World Bank 1818 H street, NW MC 2-339 Washington D.C: 56 pp.
[3]	Hella, J.P., Mdoe, N.S. and Lugole, J.S. (2005). Coffee baseline report for Tanzania Coffee Research Institute. Bureau for Agricultural Consultancy and Advisory Service, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania. 40pp.
[4]	Maro, G.P., Kitalyi, A., Nyabenge, M. and Teri, J.M. (2010). Assessing the impact of land degradation on coffee sustainability in Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. In: Proceedings of the 23rd ASIC Conference, 3 -8 October, 2010, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia: 607-614.
[5]	Gumbo, D. (2006). Integrated soil fertility management. Technical Brief, Practical Action Southern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe; 06 September, 2006. 5pp.
[6]	Raab, R.T. (2002). Fundamentals of Integrated Soil Fertility Management. IFDC Training materials for the "Training Program on Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) in the Tropics", Lome, Togo, October 7-12, 2002. 10 pp.
[7]	Korikanthmath, V.S. and Hosmani, M.M. (1998). Organic recycling of coffee pulp in coffee-based cropping systems. Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32: 127-130.
[8]	Chemura, A., Mandhlazi, R. and Mahoya, C. (2008). Recycled coffee wastes as potential replacements of inorganic fertilizers for coffee production. In: Proceedings of the 22nd ASIC Conference, 14-19 Sept. 2008, Campinas, Brazil, 1197-1201.
[9]	Semoka, J.M.R., Mrema, J.P. and Semu, E. (2005). A comprehensive literature review on integrated soil fertility management for coffee. Consultancy report submitted to TaCRI. Department of Soil Science, SUA. 142 pp.
[10]	Maro, G.P. and Mbogoni, J.D.J. (2009). Soils of Kasulu, Kibondo, Tarime and Rorya districts and their suitability for coffee production. Technical report submitted to MAFSC (PADEP Project), May, 2009. 78 pp.
[11]	Maro, G.P., Mrema, J.P., Msanya, B.M., Janssen, B.H. and Teri, J.M. (2014). Exploring the nutrient release potential of organic materials as integrated soil fertility management components using SAFERNAC. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science Vol 3 (4): 419-433.
[12]	Kwabiah, A, B., Stoskopf, N.C., Voroney, R.P., and Palm, C.A. (2001). Nitrogen and Phosphorus release from decomposing leaves under subhumid Tropical conditions. Biotropica Vol. 33 (2): 229-240.
[13]	Okalebo, J.R., Othieno, C.O., Woomer, P.L., Karanja, N.K., Semoka, J.M.R., Bekunda, M.A., Mugendi, D,N., Muasya, R.M., Bationo, A. And Mukhwana, E.J. (2007). Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa. In: A. Bationo (eds), Advances in ISFM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities: 45-62.
[14]	Ikerra, S.T., Semu, E. and Mrema, J.P. (2007). Combining Tithonia diversifolia and Minjingu phosphate rock for improvement of P availability and maize grain yields on a Chromic Acrisol in Morogoro, Tanzania. In: A. Bationo (eds), Advances in ISFM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities: 333-344.
[15]	Kimani, S.K., Esilaba, A.O., Odera, M.M., Kimenye, L., Vanlauwe, B. and Bationo, A. (2007). Effect of organic and mineral sources of nutrients on maize yields in three districts of Central Kenya. In: A. Bationo (eds), Advances in ISFM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities: 353-357.
[16]	Tumuhairwe, J.B., Rwakaikara-Silver, M.C., Muwanga, S. and Natigo, S. (2007). Screening legume green manure for climatic adaptability and farmer acceptance in the semi-arid agroecological zone in Uganda. In: A. Bationo (eds), Advances in ISFM in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and opportunities: 255-259.
[17]	Moshi, M.J., Kagashe, G.A.B. and Mbwambo, Z.H. (2005). Plants used to treat epilepsy by Tanzanian traditional healers. Journal of Ethnopharmacology Vol. 97: 327-336.
[18]	Ndakidemi, P. (2014). Dry bean response to fertilization using Minjingu Phosphate Rock and composted Tughutu (Vernonia subligera O. Hofn). Journal of Experimental Agriculture International Vol. 6 (1): 51-59.
[19]	Mlingano Agricultural Research Institute (MARI). (2006). Soils of Tanzania and their potential for agriculture development. Report to the Ministry of Agriculture, November, 2006: 33 pp.
[20]	Khalil, M.I., Hossain, M.B., and Schmidhalter, U. (2005). Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in different upland soils of the subtropics treated with organic materials. Elsevier, Ltd. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 37 (2005): 1507-1518.
[21]	Gunapala, N., Venette, R.C., Ferris, H. and Scow, K.M. (1998). Effects of soil management history on the rate of organic matter decomposition. Elsevier Ltd. Soil Biology & Biochemistry Vol. 30 (14), 1998: 1917-1927.
[22]	Van Ranst, E., Verloo, M., Demeyer, A. and Pauwels, J.M. (1999). Manual for soil chemistry and fertility laboratory: Analytical methods for soil and plants, equipment and management of consumables. International Training Centre for Post-graduate Soil Scientists, Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. ISBN 90-76603-01-4, 243pp.
[23]	Verloo, M. and Demeyer, A. (1997). Soil preparation and analysis – A practical guide. Department of Applied Analytical and Physical Chemistry, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium; March, 1997. 107pp.
[24]	National Soil Services (NSS), (1990). National Soil Services: Laboratory procedures for routine soil analysis (3rd Edition). NSS Miscellaneous Publication M13, Mlingano, Tanzania. 140 pp.
[25]	Anderson, J.M and Ingram, J.S.I. (1993). The Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility: A handbook of methods. 2nd Edition. CAB International, Wallingford, Oxon OX108DE, UK. 92pp.
[26]	Kuehl, R.O. (2000). Design of experiments: Statistical principles of research design and analysis. 2nd Edition, Brooks Cole, Duxbury. 665 pp.
[27]	Maro, G.P. (2004). Yield gap analysis for selected sugarcane estates in Tanzania. M.Sc Thesis, Lab of Soil Science, Krijgslaan 281/S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium, September, 2004: 114pp.
[28]	Monyo, G.K., Mtenga, D.J., Maro, G.P., Kilambo, D.L. and Urassa, J.M. (2020). Developmental variation among improved coffee hybrids propagated through somatic embryogenesis. World Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 8 (3):70-74.
[29]	Kaloi, G.M., Bhughio, N., Panhwar, R.N., Junejo, S., Mari, A.H. and Bhuto, M.A. (2011). Influence of incubation period on phosphate release in two soils of District Hyderabad. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 21 (4):665-670.
[30]	Kwabiah, A, B., Voroney, R.P., Palm, C.A. and Stoskopf, N.C. (1999). Inorganic fertilizer enrichment in soils: Effect on decomposition of plant litter under subhumid Tropical conditions. Biology and Fertility of Soils 30: 224-231.
[31]	Rodriguez, M.A. (2004). An in situ incubation technique to measure the contribution of organic nitrogen to potatoes. Agronomie 24: 249-256.
[32]	Lecerf, A., Marie, G., Kominoski, J.S., Leroy, C.J., Bernadet, G. and Swan, C.M. (2011). Incubation time, functional litter diversity and habitat characteristics predict litter mixing effects on decomposition. Ecology 92 (1): 160-169.
[33]	Fissore, C., Jurgensen, M.F., Pickens, J., Miller, C., Page-Dumroese, D. and Giardina, C.P. (2016). Role of soil texture, clay mineralogy, location and temperature in coarse wood decomposition – A mesocosm experiment. Ecosphere 7 (11):1-13.
[34]	Tadesse, A., Taye, E. and Mesfin, T. (2018). Effect of temporary shade tree species on growth performance of newly transplanted Arabica coffee seedlings at Jimma, Ethiopia. American Journal of Medical Science Vol. 3: 93-100.
[35]	Coffee and Climate Initiative (2015). Climate change adaptation in coffee production: A step-by-step guide to supporting coffee farmers in adapting to climate change. Version 2015, GIZ: 184pp.