Effects of long term organic banana monoculture on the soil physico-chemical properties of a luvisol in central Uganda

Abstract

Previous studies have attributed the decline in banana production in Uganda to low soil fertility status. This trend is usually influenced by the farmers’ management practices. Most banana production in Uganda is under long-term monoculture system. This system has influence on the soil physico-chemical properties of the soil which in the long run affects the yield of bananas. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of long-term banana monoculture system under organic fertilization on the soil physico-chemical properties. 16 composite soil samples from the banana field and four from the undisturbed fallow field were taken for analysis in soil and plant laboratory at College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), Makerere University. The soils from banana and undisturbed fallow field were luvic in nature with a sandy clay texture. Soil from the banana field was slightly alkaline characterized by moderate SOC and SOM values, moderate total N, high available P, very high exchangeable Ca and very low exchangeable K. Soils from the undisturbed fallow field were slightly acidic, moderate SOC and SOM values, low total N, high available P, very high exchangeable Ca and low exchangeable K which was higher than in the banana field. The status of the chemical properties was highly influenced by the nature of the soil, no tillage, mulching and organic fertilization while the long- term monoculture had less impact on them except for potassium.