Browsing by Author "Kalonga, Joseph"

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Characterization of soil health and nutrient content status across the North-East Maasai Landscape, Arusha Tanzania
(Elsevier B.V., 2024-01-19) Kalonga, Joseph; Mtei, Kelvin; Massawe, Boniface; Kimaro, Anthony; Winowiecki, Leigh Ann
Soil fertility management has been a great challenge to smallholder farmers in the Northern Tanzania, especially in the Maasai landscape. Therefore understanding the nutrient status become important to forecast productivity, promote sustainability, and propose an appropriate technique for crop productivity sustainability. The study examines soil fertility status of the Maasai landscape. Systematic approach known as the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) were used to identify soil sampling points. A total of 604 soil samples from two soil depth (0 – 30 and 30 – 50 cm) were collected for physiochemical properties analysis using Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. The chosen level for determining statistical significance, was set at P = 0.05. Results showed a significant differences (P < 0.01) for particle size distribution, SOC, EC, CEC, TN, pH, N, P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Mn and Zn across the landscape zones. It was observed that soil parameters such as pH (6.62 – 7.44), CEC (27.59 – 32.82 meq/100 g), and EC (90.12 - 121.93 μS/cm) were in the adequate and acceptable range while SOC (0.89 – 1.89 %) was observed to be in low amount. Other nutrients such as N (0.09 – 0.14 %), P (9.46 – 14.87 mg/kg), and K (175.91 - 293.5 mg/kg) were in inadequate amounts except for the S (12.9 – 15.43 mg/kg) which was in optimum, Ca (3117.5 - 4155.31 mg/kg) ranged between low to optimum, and Mg (556.95 - 603.26 mg/kg) was in excessive amounts. However, Mn (114.13 mg/kg – 128.95 mg/kg) was in excess. This study found that, there is a significance difference on soil fertility status across the landscape. Major soil nutrient fertility constraints found were N, P, Ca, and K for some soils. The study recommends that interventions to address the issue of soil fertility in the northeast Maasai landscape should consider the altitude issue due to variations in soil health and nutrient content.
Household food insecurity and gender inequity is associated with high prevalence of maternal depression amongst female farmers with young children in rural Tanzania
(The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 2018-10-03) Blacker, Lauren; Santoso, Marianne; Harnett, Laura; Kassim, Neema; Mollay, Clara; Martin, Haikael; Mtinda, Elias; Kalonga, Esther; Mtei, Kelvin; Kalonga, Joseph; Bezner, Rachel; Young, Sera
There is growing recognition of the importance of maternal mental health for the well-being of both mothers and children. In addition to being of importance to public health concern on its own right, maternal depression could impede women's capacity to provide quality care to their children. However, the covariates of maternal depression, especially in low-resource settings, are not well-understood. In particular, the role of gender equity in maternal depression needs further investigation. Therefore, we sought to understand covariates associated with maternal depression in a rural farming community in Tanzania. We hypothesized that greater food insecurity and gender inequity in a household would be positively correlated with maternal depression. The Singida Nutrition and Agroecology Project (SNAP-Tz) is a participatory agroecology and nutrition intervention with rural farmers with children <1 y in Singida, Tanzania. As part of the baseline assessment in February 2016, women from the 587 participating households were asked about a range of socio-demographic, agricultural, health, and nutrition topics. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D, range: 0–65) was used to measure maternal depression. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS, range: 0–27) was used to measure household food insecurity. Gender equity was indicated by a summed score of husband's help with household chores (range: 0–7), women's (dis)satisfaction with leisure time, and women's experience with domestic violence. Social support was measured using the Perceived Social Support scale (PSS, range:0–40). Multivariate linear regression models of depression were then built using backwards stepwise elimination and include village fixed effects. Standard error estimates considered clustering at the village level. CESD scores indicated probable depression (CES-D≥17) among 69.2% of women. Probable major depression (CES-D≥26) was indicated for 42.5% women. The mean HFIAS of 14.0 (sd: 7.9) suggested that food insecurity was also very common. In multivariate models of depression, food insecurity score was positively and strongly correlated with maternal depression score (β=0.62, p=0.000). Having experienced domestic violence was positively associated with increased maternal depression score (β=4.29, p=0.004). Greater help from husband and satisfaction with amount of leisure time were negatively correlated with maternal depression score (β=−0.65, p=0.011 and β=−3.00, p=0.000, respectively). In sum, the prevalence of maternal depression is very high in Singida, Tanzania. While some covariates were not modifiable, several important ones were, including food insecurity, unbalanced household division of task, and domestic violence. Causality should be further explored, but these data suggest important and novel domains in which to intervene to improve maternal mental health.
Performance of selected cowpea (vigna unguiculata (l.) walp) varieties in different soil types in Singida District, Tanzania
(NM-AIST, 2017-12) Kalonga, Joseph
A participatory research was conducted in Singida District central Tanzania under Singida Nutrition and Agro ecological Project (SNAP), during the 2016/2017 cropping season to evaluate the performance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties in different soil types. Four improved cowpea varieties; Tumaini, Fahari, Vuli-AR-I, Vuli-II and one local cowpea variety sourced from farmers in the study area were used. “Mother-baby trial” approach was used whereby a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment with three (3) replications was set in four different soil types; sandy loam, sandy clay, sandy clay loam and loamy sand as a mother trial. Twenty eight (28) farmers from three villages (Iddisimba, Merya and Msikii) were selected for the “baby trials”. In the “mother trial” planting was done on 04th February 2017, with inter and intra-row spacing of 75 cm and 20 cm respectively for the bush type Tumaini, Fahari, and local varieties: while the determinate varieties Vuli-AR-I and Vuli-II were sown at spacing of 50 cm between rows and 20 cm within rows. The growth parameters were recorded in the 9 th week after seedling emergences and yield parameters at harvest. The results showed significance difference (P<0.05) on growth parameters and yield parameters. Generally, the improved varieties performed better than the local variety in both mother and baby trials although yields were less in baby trial compared to mother trial. Vuli AR-I performed better in all types of soil, Tumaini in sandy loam, Vuli-II and Vuli AR-I in sandy loam, sandy clay and sandy clay loam. In “baby trial” Tumaini in Iddisimba and Msikii village and Fahari variety in Merya village. The results therefore portray a differential performance of the varieties based on soil types and the study highlights the need for recommending these varieties based on the soil types.A participatory research was conducted in Singida District central Tanzania under Singida Nutrition and Agro ecological Project (SNAP), during the 2016/2017 cropping season to evaluate the performance of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) varieties in different soil types. Four improved cowpea varieties; Tumaini, Fahari, Vuli-AR-I, Vuli-II and one local cowpea variety sourced from farmers in the study area were used. “Mother-baby trial” approach was used whereby a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) experiment with three (3) replications was set in four different soil types; sandy loam, sandy clay, sandy clay loam and loamy sand as a mother trial. Twenty eight (28) farmers from three villages (Iddisimba, Merya and Msikii) were selected for the “baby trials”. In the “mother trial” planting was done on 04th February 2017, with inter and intra-row spacing of 75 cm and 20 cm respectively for the bush type Tumaini, Fahari, and local varieties: while the determinate varieties Vuli-AR-I and Vuli-II were sown at spacing of 50 cm between rows and 20 cm within rows. The growth parameters were recorded in the 9 th week after seedling emergences and yield parameters at harvest. The results showed significance difference (P<0.05) on growth parameters and yield parameters. Generally, the improved varieties performed better than the local variety in both mother and baby trials although yields were less in baby trial compared to mother trial. Vuli AR-I performed better in all types of soil, Tumaini in sandy loam, Vuli-II and Vuli AR-I in sandy loam, sandy clay and sandy clay loam. In “baby trial” Tumaini in Iddisimba and Msikii village and Fahari variety in Merya village. The results therefore portray a differential performance of the varieties based on soil types and the study highlights the need for recommending these varieties based on the soil types.
Potential of legume diversification in soil fertility management and food security for resource poor farmers in Sub-Saharan AfricaPotential of legume diversification in soil fertility management and food security for resource poor farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
(INNSPUB, 2017-12-30) Kalonga, Joseph; Mbega, Ernest; Mtei, Kelvin
Declines in soil fertility and its effect on crop production is a major problem in sub Saharan Africa. It is a major factor limiting crop production and consequently food security in agrarian communities. The causes of soil fertility decline on smallholder farms in Southern and East Africa include continuous cropping without sufficient soil replenishment, degradation through erosion and leaching, and limited biological nitrogen-fixation. Using inorganic fertilizers to address this problem doesn’t add organi c matter and is not accessible for small scale farming communities who cannot access fertilizer or afford the high costs of purchase. In this review, we explore the literature on legume diversification as part of a sustainable approach to fertility management. Legumes in the farming systems can improve soil fertility through the rhizobium-legume symbiotic relationship (referred to as biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), and have the potential to enhance soil organic matter and conserve other soil resources a s well. In addition legumes can provide multipurpose roles by contributing food, fodder and fuel to households. The information that is compiled in this review is vital to guide research efforts and farmers to integrate more relevant legume crops into their farming systems, particularly those types of legumes which produce large amounts of vegetative biomass that can be used to ameliorate soil fertility for enhanced food production and security