The effects of differernt land clearing and soil management practices on soil productivity in the Lake Victoria crescent zone of Uganda

Abstract

Land clearing and the subsequent soil management practices are important steps in determining the sustainability of crop production in high rainfall areas. Soil productivity has decreased in the high rainfall zone of Uganda around Lake Victoria, known as the fertile crescent. A research was carried out at Makerere University Agriculture Research Institute, Kabanyolo (MUARIK) to determine the effect of four different land clearing and soil management practices on the productivity of a Kaudiudolf soil type. A completely randomised block design experiment was set up with three replications, involving continuous annual crops of maize and beans. The results indicated that the practices that involved intense tillage and burning of the bushes and crop residue led to faster loss of nutrients from the soil.