Soil fertility improvement practices and round potato production among smallholder farmers in two gradients in Southern Highlands, Tanzania

Abstract

The current study aimed to describe soil fertility improvement practices and to evaluate round potato production among smallholder farmers in lower and upper gradients in southern highlands, Tanzania. Household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews were used to collect data on farmers' perception of soil fertility, farmers’ management practices for improved soil fertility and round potato production. Farmers perceived soil fertility as moderate and employed relay cropping, agroforestry, and fertiliser use simultaneously as soil fertility improvement practices. However, industrial fertilisers were perceived as environmentally unfriendly and harmed/burnt crops, likely due to over-application. Overall, potato farm size (1.9 acres) and yields (12 t/acres) were higher in the lower than in the upper gradient. However, there were differences in cultivation cycles, two per annum in the upper gradient compared to one in the lower. The variations in potato farm size and yields between gradients were due to the variation in terrain and temperature. Consequently, farmers in the upper gradient increased cultivation frequency as a compensation strategy. It was concluded that farmers employed various practices simultaneously to improve soil fertility, and potato farm management differed between the two gradients due to the existing climatic conditions. Furthermore, farmers were over-applying fertilisers in the field; hence the need for training on appropriate fertiliser uses for sustainable land and farm management.