A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE OF SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE.
MOROGORO, TANZANIA.
A study was conducted at Ifakara Morogoro Region with a purpose of investigating the
effect of selected crop management interventions and hydrological conditions on soil
NH4+ and NO3- content. Study sites were located at Valley Middle and Fringe sites as
distinct hydrological zones. An experiment, in a complete Randomized block design, with
six treatments: Semi-natural vegetation (TR1), Farmers practice (TR2), bunding alone
(TR3), bunding + 60 kgN/ha (TR4), bunding + 120 kgN/ha (TR5) and bunding+Lablab
green manure (TR6) was laid down in three replicates. SARO 5 rice variety was used as a
test-crop. The trials were set during the 2014/15 pre-season and 2015/16 main season.
Data was collected from 0-10cm soil depth. A Two-way ANOVA and post hoc – Tukey
HD test statistical analyses were performed using GenStat Programme. Pre-season NH4+
showed 3 patterns: initial increase to peak values within 3 and 6 weeks for the Fringe and
Middle sites, a period of decline (7th to 9th week, Middle, and 4th to 6th Fringe) and a
period of increase (from 7th, Fringe and 10th week, Middle). Highest peak NH4+ values
were at the Middle site (TR6 - 0.007401, TR5 - 0.004776, and TR4 - 0.04525, g/kg soil
and TR4 - 0.004524, TR5 - 0.004595 g/kg soil). Peak NH4+ values differed significantly
among treatments, following the trend: TR6>TR5>TR3>TR4>TR1>TR2 and
TR4>R6=TR5=TR3+TR2>TR1 at the Middle and Fringe sites, respectively. Nitrate
content decreased within 1-2 weeks both sites to attain the least values between 4 and 7
weeks and rose steadily to 10. Rice cropping season NH4+ and NO3- variation showed a
similar trend for both sites, apart for a sudden increase in the treatments with N input at
week 8 and 10. Hydrological conditions did not significantly influence the NH4+ and NO3-
(P = 0.05) content. The study recommends repeating the work under controlled conditions.