Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Soil micronutrients are important elements for plant growth despite being required in small quantities. Deficiency of micronutrients can result in severe crop failure while excess levels can lead to health hazards; therefore, investigating their status in agricultural land is crucial. Fifty plots we...
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Wiley
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9814316 |
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| author | Mathayo Mpanda Mathew Amos E. Majule Robert Marchant Fergus Sinclair |
| author_facet | Mathayo Mpanda Mathew Amos E. Majule Robert Marchant Fergus Sinclair |
| author_sort | Mathayo Mpanda Mathew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil micronutrients are important elements for plant growth despite being required in small quantities. Deficiency of micronutrients can result in severe crop failure while excess levels can lead to health hazards; therefore, investigating their status in agricultural land is crucial. Fifty plots were established along an altitudinal gradient from 680 to 1696 m a.s.l. on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Soils were sampled at the top- (0–20 cm) and subsoils (21–50 cm) in four locations within each plot. Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy and wet chemistry were used for soil analysis. Results indicated that the mean concentrations of the micronutrients in the topsoil were Fe (130.4±6.9 mgkg−1), Mn (193.4±20.5 mgkg−1), Zn (2.8±0.2 mgkg−1), B (0.68±0.1 mgkg−1), and Cu (8.4±0.8 mgkg−1). Variations of the micronutrients were not statistically different by elevation (df = 41, p>0.05) and by soil depth (df = 49, p>0.05). Correlations among micronutrients were significant for Fe versus Mn (r=0.46, p<0.001), B versus Zn (r=0.40, p=0.003), B versus Cu (r=0.34, p=0.013), and Cu versus Zn (r=0.88, p<0.001). The correlated micronutrients implied that they were affected by similar factors. Soil pH correlated positively with B, Fe, and Mn and negatively with Cu and Zn, hence probably influencing their availability. Therefore, the need for sustaining micronutrient at sufficient levels is crucial. Management interventions may include moderating soil pH by reducing acidity through liming in the higher elevations and incorporation of organic matter in the lowlands. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4fc55ad967f745eeb6cb2373e5f1207d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1687-7667 1687-7675 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-4fc55ad967f745eeb6cb2373e5f1207d2025-08-20T03:20:16ZengWileyApplied and Environmental Soil Science1687-76671687-76752016-01-01201610.1155/2016/98143169814316Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, TanzaniaMathayo Mpanda Mathew0Amos E. Majule1Robert Marchant2Fergus Sinclair3World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 6226, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaInstitute of Resource Assessment, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35097, Dar es Salaam, TanzaniaEnvironment Department, York Institute for Tropical Ecosystems, University of York, Heslington, York, North Yorkshire YO10 5NG, UKWorld Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi 00100, KenyaSoil micronutrients are important elements for plant growth despite being required in small quantities. Deficiency of micronutrients can result in severe crop failure while excess levels can lead to health hazards; therefore, investigating their status in agricultural land is crucial. Fifty plots were established along an altitudinal gradient from 680 to 1696 m a.s.l. on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Soils were sampled at the top- (0–20 cm) and subsoils (21–50 cm) in four locations within each plot. Fourier Transform Mid-Infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy and wet chemistry were used for soil analysis. Results indicated that the mean concentrations of the micronutrients in the topsoil were Fe (130.4±6.9 mgkg−1), Mn (193.4±20.5 mgkg−1), Zn (2.8±0.2 mgkg−1), B (0.68±0.1 mgkg−1), and Cu (8.4±0.8 mgkg−1). Variations of the micronutrients were not statistically different by elevation (df = 41, p>0.05) and by soil depth (df = 49, p>0.05). Correlations among micronutrients were significant for Fe versus Mn (r=0.46, p<0.001), B versus Zn (r=0.40, p=0.003), B versus Cu (r=0.34, p=0.013), and Cu versus Zn (r=0.88, p<0.001). The correlated micronutrients implied that they were affected by similar factors. Soil pH correlated positively with B, Fe, and Mn and negatively with Cu and Zn, hence probably influencing their availability. Therefore, the need for sustaining micronutrient at sufficient levels is crucial. Management interventions may include moderating soil pH by reducing acidity through liming in the higher elevations and incorporation of organic matter in the lowlands.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9814316 |
| spellingShingle | Mathayo Mpanda Mathew Amos E. Majule Robert Marchant Fergus Sinclair Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Applied and Environmental Soil Science |
| title | Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_full | Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_fullStr | Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_short | Variability of Soil Micronutrients Concentration along the Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
| title_sort | variability of soil micronutrients concentration along the slopes of mount kilimanjaro tanzania |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9814316 |
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