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Since
the 1960s sisal production had dramatically declined in Tanzania due to
decreasing world market prices and management problems at the plantations.
In the mid-1980s large scale rehabilitation programmes were initiated to
revive sisal production in Tanzania. As part of those programmes we
undertook detailed soil surveys of a large number of sisal plantations.
The surveys included soil mapping, soil description and land evaluation
for alternative crops (e.g. teak, cashew). The soil survey reports and
maps showed were to plant which crop, and recommendations included
detailed information on crop husbandry practises.
An
important research theme developed during the soil surveys was to quantify
the changes in soil properties as a result of continuous sisal cropping in
the absence of nutrient inputs by inorganic or organic fertilisers. The
research question was: can the decline in sisal production be explained by
the decline in soil fertility? It was found that soil fertility declined
had occurred in most soils under continuous sisal cropping but that the
rate of decline and the impact on crop production differed between soil
types. Soil parent material and length of cropping determined to a large
extent the resilience of the soil and the decline in soil fertility. This
research was conducted in close cooperation with the plantation management
and was funded by British and Swiss plantation owners. The results have
been communicated in workshops whilst in Tanzania and a series of
publications in refereed journals.
Publications
Hartemink, A.E. 1997
Soil fertility decline in some Major Soil Groupings
under permanent cropping in Tanga Region, Tanzania. Geoderma 75:
215-229
Hartemink, A.E. 1997
Input and output of major nutrients under
monocropping sisal in Tanzania. Land Degradation and Development
8: 305-310
Hartemink, A.E., J.F.
Osborne & Ph.A. Kips 1996
Soil fertility decline and
fallow effects in Ferralsols and Acrisols of sisal plantations in
Tanzania. Experimental Agriculture 32:173-184
Hartemink A.E. & J.F.
Wienk 1995 Sisal production and soil fertility
decline in Tanzania. Outlook on Agriculture 24: 91-96
Hartemink, A.E. & E.M.
Bridges 1995 The influence of parent material on
soil fertility degradation in the coastal plain of Tanzania. Land
Degradation and Rehabilitation 6: 215-221
Hartemink, A.E. & A.J. van
Kekem 1994 Nutrient depletion under hybrid
sisal cultivation in Tanzania. Soil Use and Management 10: 103-107
Hartemink A.E. 1991 Soils of Mabogo Estate (Tanzania) and their
suitability for sisal and alternative crops. Detailed soil survey report.
51 pp. Chillington Corporation, London.
Hartemink, A.E. 1991 Soils of Bamba estate (Tanzania) and their
suitability for sisal, teak and cashew. Detailed soil survey report. 73
pp. Chillington Corporation, London.
Hartemink, A.E. 1991 Soils of Lanconi estate (Tanzania) and their
suitability for sisal, teak and cashew. Detailed soil survey report. 69
pp. Chillington Corporation, London.
Hartemink A.E. 1990 Soils of Kwalukonge Estate (Tanzania) and their
suitability for sisal and alternative crops. Detailed soil survey report.
46 pp. Chillington Corporation, London.
Hartemink A.E. 1990 Soils of Mazinde Estate (Tanzania) and their
suitability for sisal and alternative crops. Detailed soil survey report.
39 pp. Chillington Corporation, London.
Hartemink, A.E. 1989 Soil survey of the Mazinde Group. 18 pp.
Chillington
Corporation, London
Hartemink, A.E. & S.M. Cleveringa 1988
Soils of Mwera Estate (Tanzania)
and their potential for hybrid sisal cultivation. Detailed Soil Survey
report. 60 pp. National Soil Service, Tanga.
Cleveringa, S.M. & A.E. Hartemink 1988
Soils of Pongwe Estate (Tanzania)
and their potential for hybrid sisal cultivation. Detailed Soil Survey
report. 55 pp. National Soil Service, Tanga.
Hartemink, A.E. & S.M. Cleveringa 1988
Soils of Kwamdulu Estate (Tanzania)
and their potential for hybrid sisal cultivation. Detailed Soil Survey
report. 54 pp. National Soil Service, Tanga.
Hartemink, A.E., S.M. Cleveringa, G.W. van
Barneveld & A. Brom
1988 The
potential for hybrid sisal cultivation of four Amboni Estates in Tanga
Region. Miscellaneous publications. 31 pp. National Soil Service, Tanga.
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