TITLE:
Potential of Soil Fertility Management to Improve Essential Mineral Nutrient Concentrations in Vegetables in Dodoma and Kilombero, Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Nyambilila A. Amuri, Lydia Mhoro, Tumaini Mwasyika, Ernest Semu
KEYWORDS:
Soil Fertility, Nutrient Concentration, Human Mineral Nutrition, Vegetables, Dodoma, Kilombero
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.6 No.2,
May
15,
2017
ABSTRACT: Collective efforts to fight mineral nutrient malnutrition in humans require consideration of soil fertility management practices (SFMP) in vegetable production. This study aimed at establishing the relationship between SFMP and vegetable nutrient concentration for human health in farming systems of Tanzania. Soil and vegetable samples collected from vegetable growing areas in Kilombero and Dodoma were analyzed for chemical properties and mineral nutrient concentration. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and correlation analysis were employed. The results showed that soil pH in Kilombero ranged from 6.04 to 6.8 and in Dodoma ranged from 6.23 to 8.58. The organic C was low, ranged from 0.10% to 1.87%. All soils studied had sufficient Zn (0.45 to 29.3 mg/kg), Cu (0.71 to 3.23 mg/kg), Fe (3.70 to 171.7 mg/kg) and Mn (2.84 to 41.38 mg/kg). Zinc concentration in all vegetables ranged from 12.57 to 134.54 mg/kg, 14% of vegetables had low Zn (