TITLE:
Suitability of Kabanyolo Soils for Fruit and Vegetable Production
AUTHORS:
Paul Okiror, Julius Bunny Lejju, Joseph Bahati, Grace Kagoro Rugunda, Collins Inno Sebuuwufu, Patrick Mulindwa, Jolly Joe Ocan
KEYWORDS:
Fruits, Kabanyolo, Vegetables, Soil, Suitability
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.7 No.2,
February
7,
2017
ABSTRACT: This paper presents results of soil analysis for samples extracted from Makerere University Agricultural Research Institute Kabanyolo. The study was aimed at ascertaining the suitability of MUARIK soils for fruit (pineapple, passion fruit and watermelon) and vegetable (cabbage, eggplant, tomato and pumpkin) growth, yield and maturity. Soil morphological, physical and chemical properties were probed by excavating a 1.86 meter soil profile pit and sampling soils in 9 equidistant locations at MUARIK. The soil morphology and physical properties were described using the Munsel colour chart and USDA classification system while chemical parameters were determined in Makerere University Soil Laboratory following procedures described by Okalebo et al. [1]. Three pedon layers (RSK-H1, RSK-H3 and RSK-H5) had gradual boundaries while RSK-H4 was continuous. However, RSK-H2 and RSK-H6 had abrupt boundary layers. The texture of the profiles was clayey (52%). The soils were acidic with a pH of 6.08 (sub soil) to 6.12 (top soil). On comparison with standard requirements for target fruits and vegetables, the site was deficient in most of the minerals including P (8.88-12.42 pmm), Ca (6.46-7.92 pmm), K (0.06-0.47 pmm), Mg (1.37-1.70 pmm), Na (0.17-0.23 pmm), N (0.18-0.19 pmm), and soil organic matter (4.53%-4.81%). Sand and clay had the highest negative significant correlation (r = ǂ.94, p