Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Cultivars on Soil Properties in Three Districts of Uganda

Nankya, E. and Senabulya., S. and Saavedra., R. and Lali., F. and Taulya, G (2024) Assessing the Impact of Eucalyptus Cultivars on Soil Properties in Three Districts of Uganda. Journal of Integrity in Ecosystems and Environment, 2 (3). pp. 6-14.

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Abstract

The present study investigated the influence of Eucalyptus cultivation on soil properties across the three districts of Uganda: Kabarole, Mpigi and Rakai which are part of Western Highlands, Lake Victoria Crescent and South Western Agroecological zones respectively. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of two dominant Eucalyptus cultivars GU7 (Improved) and E. grandis (Local) within these regions. A total of three treatments composed of the two above cultivars and the control plot with no eucalyptus were considered for this study. These were each replicated three times making a total of 9 replications per district and a total of 27 replications across the three districts. From each replicate across the three districts, a total of 5 composite soil samples were picked at a depth of 0-30cm making a total of 135 soil samples across the three districts. These were taken to the soil laboratory for analysis of major soil nutrients which included; total nitrogen, available phosphorus, potassium, exchangeable magnesium, calcium, soil organic carbon and pH. Statistical analysis, with R software version 4.3.3, was performed to obtain differences in their means. Results showed a general decline in major soil nutrients (N, P and K) across the Eucalyptus stands in all three districts, with a more significant (P<0.005) decline observed under GU7 cultivar plantations. Additionally, results showed that Mg and Ca were inherently low and the most deficient nutrients in both Kabarole and Rakai while pH was significantly (P<0.05) higher (6.6) in Mpigi compared to the other two districts in the control plot but also significantly (P<0.05) reduced under GU7 plantations in the same district compared to the two districts. The study also revealed that P is the most deficient nutrient in Rakai district for Eucalyptus production while N and SOM are the most deficient in Mpigi. Potassium (K) was significantly (P<0.05) low in both Kabarole and Rakai soils compared to Mpigi district.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Postgraduate > Master's of Islamic Education
Depositing User:	Journal Editor
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2024 10:32
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2024 10:32
URI:	http://eprints.umsida.ac.id/id/eprint/13507

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