Mapping and characterization of some soils in the northert part of Morogoro Distric, Tanzania

Abstract

Combining air-photo interpretation and field investigations, a soil surey was carried out in the northern part of Morogoro District, Tanzania. General environmental features of the area including geology, geomorphology, climate and vegetation are described. Thirteen mapping units and 12 soil profiles were described from two toposequences containing the most common soils of the area. The soils tall in the orders Vertisols, Lixisols, Cambisols, Leptosols, Luvisols and Acrisols great groups of the FAO-Unesco (1988) system. Parent material, relief and climate are major factors of soil development in the study area. Some genereal data on morphology and physico-chemical properties of the studied soil profiles are presented. The gently undulating to undulating plains have very deep, well drained slightly acid to strongly acid soils with relatively low CEC levels. Soils in river valleys and topographic depressions are also deep, imperfectly to poorly drained and with neutral to moderatly alkaline soil reaction and relatively high levels of CEC. Fertility status and sustainable agrucultural potential of the soils are assessed based on these properties and climatic data. Some soil management practises are suggested. General soil maps produces for the two selected toposequences namey Magadu and Lubungo-Mkata are presented.