Soils and Land Evaluation of Part of the Sokoine University of Agriculture Farm (Tanzania) for some Crops under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

A detailed soil survey of about 420 ha of the central part of the Sokoine University of Agriculture farm was carried out for soil characterization, laboratory physico-chemical characterization, soil classification and land suitability evaluation of the area with respect to maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), paddy rice (Oryza sativa) and field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris); all under rainfed conditions. The soils were mapped at 1/10, 000 scale based on slope, soil drainage, topsoil texture and effective soil depth and five mapping units were identified. Land suitability evaluation indicated that none of the identified mapping units was highly suitable for the above listed crops.