Authors : B. Fungo, S. Grunwald, M.M. Tenywa and P. Nkedi-Kizza
Abstract: The study aimed at characterizing the distribution of lunnyu soils in the Lake Victiria Basin of Uganda at field and landscape level. At field-level, soil samples were collected from the center point square grids obtained by laying a 180x180 m plot. At spacing of 20x20 m, 81 sampling points were georeferenced and samples taken at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm). And an additional 19 random locations within the plot were taken to make a total of 100 sampled locations. The soil properties analyzed were texture, pH, available P and exchangeable bases. Variograms that were used to describe the spatial structure of the soil properties were generated in VESPER (Variogram Estimation and Spatial Prediction with ERror) Version 1.6. All the soil properties, except silt showed spatial dependence at both depths at the scale of study. Phosphorus, Ca, Na and sand showed shorter ranges of between 42 and 58 m all in the top soil but the other properties in top and subsoil have larger ranges of 149 m. Overall, the spatial distribution of the soil properties in the sampled lunnyu patches are not straightforward. In order to resolve the lunnyu problem, objective identification of lunnyu patches should be sought followed by careful monitoring of crop performance u nder different soil fertility management interventions.
B. Fungo, S. Grunwald, M.M. Tenywa and P. Nkedi-Kizza, 2010. Anderson Field-Level Variability of a Lunnyu-Affected Soil in Masaka, Central Uganda. Research Journal of Soil and Water Management, 1: 68-75.