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. 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)
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
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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.