Pedological and Soil Survey Section(P&SS)

The Pedology and Soil Survey (P&SS) section conducts research on soil and environmental management. Such research includes soil and water pollution studies, soil-water-plant relationships under irrigated and rain fed conditions, soil chemical and physical degradation among others.

Research

 Collaborative research work is also carried out with public and private sector organisations within and outside Zimbabwe. These include the local universities, private companies, NGOs and international organisations such as the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) of the Netherlands. Collaboration with ISRIC has seen the development of the national Soil and Terrain (SOTER) database and the SOTER map.

3.4 ADVISORY SERVICES

Soil surveys and mapping

Soil surveys for land use planning, land resources inventory (particularly for irrigation development, forestry plantations, parks and wildlife, environmental management). GIS Unit is responsible for production of soil maps and the corresponding soil databases.

Advice is given to individual and organisations on the most suitable soil use. Most of the advisory work has covered salinity and sodicity concerns and pollution investigations. The section also disseminates soils information to various user groups within Zimbabwe.

Analytical services offered

1.    Soil Physics Lab

Infiltration tests, bulk density, aggregate stability, soil moisture determination

2.    Soil Particle Size Lab

Particle size analysis is done in this lab using the Hydrometer method.

3.    Soil Chemistry Lab(Cation Exchange Capacity  Laboratory)

This is the lab where soil chemical analysis for agriculture and environment is done. The following parameters are analysed in Soil Chemistry Lab.

 Exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity,  pH,  electrical conductivity, heavy metals, soil organic carbon

4.0 STAFF

 The section has a staff compliment of 9 Research Officers, 3 Laboratory Technicians, 1 Cartographic Technician and 5 Laboratory Assistants.

The Research Officers have at least a BSc Honours Degree in Soil Science. They show interest in different research activities that are intertwined and together they make a closely-knit team of research scientists.

 Some of the key research interests for current researchers at P&SS are given in table below:

5.0 PUBLICATIONS

For every soil survey undertaken, the section produces asoil report, accompanied with a soil map for the particular area surveyed.

 An example of such reports published internally is shown below:

5.1 TECHNICAL REPORTS (2001 - 2017)

1. Chikwari E., Manyanga M.A., Mhaka L. & Noko B.K  (2015) Soils of the proposed Mkwasine unit d1 sugarcane irrigation project. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Pedology and Soil Survey Section- Report No. A694.

2. Manyanga M.A., Nyapwere N., Noko B.K & Masomere M. (2012) Soils of the proposed Omay-Mola Irrigation   Project. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Pedology and Soil Survey Section- Report No. A693.
3. Nyapwere N., Manyanga M.A., Mhaka L., Noko B. & Masomere M. (2012) Soils of the proposed Bubi-Lupane Irrigation   Project. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Pedology and Soil Survey Section- Report No. A692.
4. Manyanga. M.A., Chikwari E. and Mhaka L. (2009) Reconnaissance soil survey of the    proposed Zambezi Irrigation Project. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Pedology and Soil Survey Section- Report No.A680.
5. Soils of the proposed Zano Blocks Irrigation Project. Masvingo Province. Soil Report No. A 688.
6. Manyanga. M.A and Chikwari E. (2007) Soils of the proposed Lapache Irrigation   Project. Department of Research and Specialist Services, Chemistry and Soil Research Institute. Pedology and Soil Survey Section- Report No. A689.
7. Soils of the proposed Shashe Irrigation Project. Masvingo Province. Soil Report No. A 683.
8. Soils of the proposed Bannockburn Irrigation Project. Masvingo Province. Soil Report No. A 684.
9. Soils of the proposed Mbembeswana Irrigation Project. Midlands Province. Soil Report No. A 685.
10. Soils of the proposed Mupfurudzi (Eben Dam) Irrigation Project. Mashonaland Central Province. Soil Report No. A 686.
11. Soils of the proposed Masembura Irrigation Project. Mashonaland East Province. Soil Report No. A 687.
12. Soils of the proposed extension of Mamina Irrigation Scheme: Mhondoro Ngezi Communal Lands. Mashonaland West Province.Soil Report No. A 674.
13. Soils of the proposed Wenimbi Irrigation Project. Mashonaland East Province.Soil Report No. A 679.
14. Soils of the proposed Ruti Irrigation Project. Masvingo Province.Soil Report No. A 680.
15. Soils of the proposed Siya Irrigation Project. Masvingo Province.Soil Report No. A 681.
16. Soils of the proposed Mutawatawa/Chikono Dam Irrigation Project. Mashonaland East Province. Soil Report No. A 682.
17. Soils of the proposed Zhove Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 671.
18. Soils of the proposed Chitora Irrigation Scheme. Mashonaland East Province.Soil Report No. A 672.
19. Soils of the proposed Highbury and Piringwani Farms. Mashonaland Central Province.Soil Report No. A 673.
20. Soils of the proposed Mhondoro-Ngezi (Mamina) Irrigation Scheme. Mashonaland West Province. Soil Report No. A 674.
21. Soils of the proposed Chiduku-Chiware Irrigation Scheme. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 675.
22. Soils of the proposed Honde Valley Irrigation Scheme. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 676.
23. Soils of the proposed Mupudzi Irrigation Scheme. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 677.
24. Soils of the proposed Manyane Irrigation Scheme. Matabeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 678.
25. Soils of the proposed Chiduku-Tikwiri Irrigation Scheme. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 657.
26. Soils of the proposed Chiduku-Tikwiri Irrigation Scheme. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 658.
27. Soils of the proposed Mtshabezi (Gwakwe) Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 659.
28. Soils of the proposed Mtshabezi (Mtshazo) Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 660.
29. Soils of the proposed Manyange Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 661.
30. Soils of the proposed Tokwane-Ngundu Irrigation Scheme. Masvingo Province.Soil Report No. A 662.
31. Soils of the proposed Nyahombe Irrigation Scheme. Masvingo Province.Soil Report No. A 663.
32. Soils of the proposed Mbindangombe Irrigation Scheme. Masvingo Province.Soil Report No. A 664.
33. Soils of the proposed Ziminya Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland North Province.Soil Report No. A 665.
34. Soils of the ICRISAT Research Sites.Soil Report No. A 666.
35. Soils of the proposed Manyange (Blocks B, D and E) Irrigation Scheme. Matebeleland South Province.Soil Report No. A 667.
36. Soils of the area commandable by Osborne Dam. Manicaland Province.Soil Report No. A 668.
37. Soils of the proposed Bruton and Chipa Irrigation Schemes. Mashonaland Central Province.Soil Report No. A 669.
38. Soils of the proposed Nuanetsi Irrigation Scheme. Masvingo Province. Soil Report No. A 670.

5.2 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Aicardi, I., Nyapwere, N., Nex, F., Gerke, M., Lingua, A. M., & Koeva, M. N. (2016). Co-Registration of Multitemporal UAV Image Datasets for Monitoring Applications: a New Approach. International Archives of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences Commission ICWG I/Vb, XLI-B1 (July), 757–763. doi:10.5194/isprsarchives-XLI-B1-757-2016

Chikwari E., Mhaka L., Gwandu T., Chipangura T., Manyanga M. A., Matsenyengwa N.S., Rabesiranana N. and Mabit L (2016) Effectiveness of conservation agriculture practices on soil erosion processes in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe. In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, Volume 18, European Geosciences union-EGU General Assembly 2016. EGU2016-2163.

Manyanga M.A., Mafongoya P. L. and Tauro T.P.(2014) Soil macrofauna order diversity and abundance under improved fallows and organic matter transfer system in Zimbabwe. Afr. J. Ecol., 52, 506–513 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Tauro T. P., Manyanga M. A., Dhliwayo D.K.C., Ndagurwa H., Dube P., Matangabende N., Manene G and Mujaju C. (2013) Germination and emergency of Afzelia quanzensis under laboratory conditions. Midlands State University Journal of Science, Agriculture and Technology, Volume 4(1).

Anderson, I.P., Brinn, P.J., Moyo, M.andNyamwanza, B.(1993). Physical Resource Inventory of the Communal Lands of Zimbabwe. An Overview. NRI Bulletin 60. Chatam, UK: Natural Resource Institute.

Gotosa, J., Gichuki, F.N. and Senzanje, A. 2002. Performance assessment of water delivery to a smallholder irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe: Nyanyadzi case study. Journal of Science in Southern Africa8(1): 37-51.

Gwenzi, W., Gotosa, J., Chakanetsa, S., and Mutema, Z. Effects of Tillage Systems on soil structural properties of an Alluvial Sandy Loam under a wheat/cotton rotation in semi-arid Zimbabwe. (in Press).

Mzezewa, J., Gotosa, J. and Nyamwanza, B.2003. Characterisation of a sodic soil catena for reclamation and improvement strategies. Geoderma113:      161-175.

Nobanda, N., Moyo, M. and Murwira A. Ecoregions: A first Approximation. In: Chenje, M., Sola, L. and Paleczny, D. (Eds). 1998. The state of Zimbabwe’s Environment 1998. Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Mines, Environment and Tourism, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Nyamangara, J.,Gotosa J. and Mpofu, S.E. 2001. Cattle manure effects on structural stability and water retention capacity of a granitic sandy soil in Zimbabwe. Soil and Tillage Research62(3-4): 157-162.

 Bennet, J.G.(1985). A Field Guide to Soil and Site Description in Zimbabwe. Technical Handbook No 6. Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal.

Purves, W.D., Fullstone, M.J., Godwin, R.G.H. and Wells, J.D.(1981). Soils of the Banket Area. Technical Report No 4. Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal.

Thompson, J.G. and Purves, W.D.(1978). A Guide to the Soils of Zimbabwe. Technical Handbook No 3. Zimbabwe Agricultural Journal.

5.3 SCIENTIFIC PAPERS PRESENTED AT WORKSHOPS

Gotosa, J. 1996. Soil chemical degradation problems induced by use of poor quality irrigation waters in some poorly managed irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe. In: Lungu, C. (Ed). 1996. Proceedings of the fifth annual scientific conference of the SADC-Land and Water Management Research Programme, Harare, Zimbabwe, October 10-14, 1994. SADC-L & WMRP, Gaborone, Botswana. Pp. 31-48.

Mzezewa, J., Gotosa, J., and Shamhudzarira, Z. 1999. Optimising Soil Water use in Zimbabwe. In: N. van Duivenbooden, M. Pala, C. Studer and C.L. Bielders (Eds.). 1999. Efficient Soil Water Use- the key to sustainable crop production in dry-area agriculture in West Asia, and North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Proceedings of the 1998

Dhliwayo D.K.C., Nyapwere N., Mhaka L., Chikwari E., Manyanga A. and J. Nyamangara J. 2013. Status of Soil Resources in Zimbabwe. The needs and priorities for sustainable its sustainable management