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Research Article

Agricultural Science Digest, volume 39 issue 4 (december 2019) : 280-285

Assessment of Soil Fertility in Smallholder Potato Farms in Rwanda

Adrien Turamyenyirijuru, Guillaume Nyagatare, Robert M. Gesimba, Rhoda J. Birech
1Department of Crop Science, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences & Veterinary Medicine, University of Rwanda; P.O. Box 210 Musanze /Rwanda.
Cite article:- Turamyenyirijuru Adrien, Nyagatare Guillaume, Gesimba M. Robert, Birech J. Rhoda (2019). Assessment of Soil Fertility in Smallholder Potato Farms in Rwanda. Agricultural Science Digest. 39(4): 280-285. doi: 10.18805/ag.D-146.

ABSTRACT

This study assessed soil fertility in potato farms of Birunga and Buberuka highlands agro-ecological zones (AEZs). It compared nutrients levels (N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, S, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) and other parameters (pH, organic carbon [OC], cation exchange capacity [CEC], base saturation [BS], bulk density [BD] and texture) of soil samples. ANOVA revealed that pH of soils (5.53-6.50) varied from slightly to moderately acidic, BD fell below optimum for plant growth (< 1.8gcm-3), texture was sandy loam to sand clay loam. Soil fertility for OC (3.33-5.53%), N (0.15-0.31%) and CEC (10.08-18.60 meq/100g) varied from low to medium; and medium to high for BS (34.78-61.91%); was qualified medium for P (5.75-9.20 ppm), K (0.21-0.54 meq/100g), S (6.46 - 8.15 ppm) and majority of micronutrients. Values from Birunga AEZ were higher than ones from Buberuka AEZ except for BD, CEC, clay, silt, Na and Fe.  There were significant differences between farms within locations for all parameters and significant differences between locations for all parameters except Na and Mn.

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