Effect Of Liming Acid Soils On Physico-Chemical Characteristics Of The Soils And Coffee Seedling Vigor In Mbozi District, Tanzania

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Soil acidity is one of the most important soil factors affecting crop growth and ultimately yield and profitability of coffee in Mbozi District Tanzania. Soils tend to be naturally acidic in areas where rainfall is sufficient to cause substantial leaching of basic ions such as calcium and magnesium, which are replaced by hydrogen ions. Most soils in Mbozi District are acidic due to high rainfall and/or the use of soil acidifying fertilizers over a long period of time. Low soil pH causes aluminium and manganese toxicities while calcium, phosphorus and magnesium become deficient. In order to counteract the situation, liming is inevitable. This study was conducted on Ultisols of Mbimba substation, located in Mlowo Ward, Mbozi District, Songwe Region Tanzania. The study area is located within latitudes 90 05’35.97”S and 90 05’13.10”E and longitudes 320 57’14.51”E and 320 57’22.32”E. The area experiences mean annual rainfall ranging between 1 000 and 1 500 mm with a monomodal distribution pattern. The study aimed at increasing soil productivity for coffee through the use of agricultural lime and ultimately improve livelihoods of the coffee farmers in Mbozi District. Different levels of dolomite lime at 0 kgha-1 , 1 000 kgha-1 , 2 000 kgha-1 and 2 500 kgha-1 were used whereby NPK (22.6.12 +3S) at 150 kgha-1 was used at basal application rate. The field layout was set in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results indicated that lime at 1 000 kgha-1 and 2 000 kgha-1 increased soil pH between 0.22 and 0.97 units and the increase of P was significant at P