Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique
Irish potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This st...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Tamara José Sande Balthazar Michael Msanya Hamisi Juma Tindwa Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi Johnson M. Semoka Mawazo Shitindi |
| author_facet | Tamara José Sande Balthazar Michael Msanya Hamisi Juma Tindwa Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi Johnson M. Semoka Mawazo Shitindi |
| author_sort | Tamara José Sande |
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| description | Irish potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation in Tete Province, where detailed soil assessments remain limited. Four pedons—TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia—were examined for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content using a combination of pedological methods and laboratory soil analysis. To determine each site’s potential for growing Irish potatoes, these factors were compared to predetermined land suitability standards. The pedons were very deep (>150 cm) and had textures ranging from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. TSA-P02 had the lowest bulk density (0.78 Mg m<sup>−3</sup>) and the highest available water capacity (182.0 mm m<sup>−1</sup>). The soil pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.9, indicating neutral to slightly acidic conditions. Nutrient analysis revealed low total nitrogen (0.12–0.22%), varying soil organic carbon (0.16–2.73%), and cation exchange capacity (10.1–11.33 cmol<sup>(+)</sup> kg<sup>−1</sup>). Pedons TSA-P01, ANGO-P1, and ANGO-P02 were characterized by eluviation and illuviation as dominant pedogenic processes, while in pedon TSA-P02, shrinking and swelling were the dominant pedogenic processes. Weathering indices identified ANGO-P01 as most highly weathered, while TSA-P02 was least weathered and had better fertility indicators. According to USDA Taxonomy, the soils were classified as <i>Ultisols, Vertisols</i>, and <i>Alfisols</i>, corresponding to <i>Acrisols</i>, <i>Alisols</i>, <i>Vertisols</i>, and <i>Luvisols</i> in the WRB for Soil Resources. All studied soils were marginally suitable for potato production (S3f) due to dominant fertility constraints, but with varying minor limitations in climate, topography, and soil physical properties. The findings hence recommended targeted soil fertility management to enhance productivity and sustainability in potato cultivation. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-a8981d759ad1406cac8ab0cf3df4ecd82025-08-20T03:29:47ZengMDPI AGSoil Systems2571-87892025-05-01925310.3390/soilsystems9020053Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, MozambiqueTamara José Sande0Balthazar Michael Msanya1Hamisi Juma Tindwa2Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi3Johnson M. Semoka4Mawazo Shitindi5Department of Agrarian Sciences, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, Zambeze University, Ulongue P.O. Box 2306, Tete Province, MozambiqueDepartment of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3008, TanzaniaDepartment of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3008, TanzaniaDepartment of Agrarian Sciences, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, Grande Dourados Federal University, Dourados 79804-970, BrazilDepartment of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3008, TanzaniaDepartment of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro P.O. Box 3008, TanzaniaIrish potato (<i>Solanum tuberosum</i>) is a critical crop for food security and economic growth in Tsangano and Angónia Districts, Central Mozambique. Challenges like inconsistent yields and variable quality are often linked to suboptimal soil conditions, which limit production. This study aimed to classify and evaluate the suitability of soils for potato cultivation in Tete Province, where detailed soil assessments remain limited. Four pedons—TSA-P01 and TSA-P02 in Tsangano and ANGO-P01 and ANGO-P02 in Angónia—were examined for bulk density, texture, pH, organic carbon, and nutrient content using a combination of pedological methods and laboratory soil analysis. To determine each site’s potential for growing Irish potatoes, these factors were compared to predetermined land suitability standards. The pedons were very deep (>150 cm) and had textures ranging from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. TSA-P02 had the lowest bulk density (0.78 Mg m<sup>−3</sup>) and the highest available water capacity (182.0 mm m<sup>−1</sup>). The soil pH ranged from 5.6 to 7.9, indicating neutral to slightly acidic conditions. Nutrient analysis revealed low total nitrogen (0.12–0.22%), varying soil organic carbon (0.16–2.73%), and cation exchange capacity (10.1–11.33 cmol<sup>(+)</sup> kg<sup>−1</sup>). Pedons TSA-P01, ANGO-P1, and ANGO-P02 were characterized by eluviation and illuviation as dominant pedogenic processes, while in pedon TSA-P02, shrinking and swelling were the dominant pedogenic processes. Weathering indices identified ANGO-P01 as most highly weathered, while TSA-P02 was least weathered and had better fertility indicators. According to USDA Taxonomy, the soils were classified as <i>Ultisols, Vertisols</i>, and <i>Alfisols</i>, corresponding to <i>Acrisols</i>, <i>Alisols</i>, <i>Vertisols</i>, and <i>Luvisols</i> in the WRB for Soil Resources. All studied soils were marginally suitable for potato production (S3f) due to dominant fertility constraints, but with varying minor limitations in climate, topography, and soil physical properties. The findings hence recommended targeted soil fertility management to enhance productivity and sustainability in potato cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/53pedological characterizationsoil morphological propertiespedonssoil classificationsoil suitability assessmentIrish potato |
| spellingShingle | Tamara José Sande Balthazar Michael Msanya Hamisi Juma Tindwa Alessandra Mayumi Tokura Alovisi Johnson M. Semoka Mawazo Shitindi Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique Soil Systems pedological characterization soil morphological properties pedons soil classification soil suitability assessment Irish potato |
| title | Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique |
| title_full | Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique |
| title_short | Advancing Sustainable Practices: Integrated Pedological Characterization and Suitability Assessment for Enhanced Irish Potato Production in Tsangano and Angónia Districts of Tete Province, Mozambique |
| title_sort | advancing sustainable practices integrated pedological characterization and suitability assessment for enhanced irish potato production in tsangano and angonia districts of tete province mozambique |
| topic | pedological characterization soil morphological properties pedons soil classification soil suitability assessment Irish potato |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/9/2/53 |
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