Agriculture Is Very Important in Uganda As the Main Source Of
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MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES IMPACTS OF EUCALYPTUS PLANTATION ON SOIL PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES IN BAMUNANIKA SUB-COUNTY, LUWERO DISTRICT, UGANDA. BY MUGAYI EMMANUEL REG NO 16/U/7248/PS SUPERVISOR: DR. GODFREY TAULYA(PhD). A SPECIAL PROJECT REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULL FILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURAL LANDUSE AND MANAGEMENT SEPTEMBER 2019 i DECLARATION ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my Daddy Lawrence Kayinamula, Mum Edith Komushana and my lovely siblings Monica kasande, Scovia Kamatenesi and Late Ronald Tumusiime (may your soul rest in eternal peace). I love you all so much and you are very close to my heart. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My profound appreciation goes to my parents for love, care above all for sponsoring me to study a degree program in this great institution of Makerere university and also making this academic journey possible. I also register my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Godfrey Taulya for facilitating this research, his support, mentorship role, constructive criticisms and taking time to read through my work. Much appreciation also goes to soil science laboratory technicians of Makerere university, Madam Gorreti and Madam Lydia for their keen interest, guidance and efficient supervision during preparation and lab analysis of soil samples to make it a success. I am also highly grateful to all the lecturers of the Agricultural land use & Management Program and other staff of school of agricultural sciences for their insightful professional work, friendship and mentorship during my academic journey at the university. Thank you also goes to my hardworking field assistant during field data collection: Mr. Ssemanda (bodaboda rider) of nabiteete village who would ride me to the field to meet farmers every day and collecting soil samples from the field. Finally, I extend my appreciation to all my loving and caring friends who helped me in one way or the other to make this work, my stay and studies in Makerere university a success: Mr. Okello David, Mr. Tamale Paul, Mr. Mugabe Demnitrous and Mr. Kisomose Paul. God bless you all. iv ABSTRACT Eucalyptus is very important to people’s livelihood as source of income and ecosystem services. However, issues surrounding these eucalyptuses on soils and the environment have raised unresolved debates among conservationists and natural resource managers. Therefore, this study was carried out to assess the impact of eucalyptus on selected soil physico- chemical properties in Bamunanika county Luwero district, where cultivation of Eucalyptus has been identified as a priority practice for integrated watershed management. A study area with both natural forest and Eucalyptus plantation was selected in Bamunanika subcounty. A 20-m long transect emanating from each of the two land use types (Eucalyptus vs. natural forest) was set up. Along each transect, a soil sample was taken from the distances 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 m from the edge of the land use type. Four undisturbed core samples were taken using pF rings and core sampler from each of the sampling points (within 40 cm of each other on either side of the transect) and uniquely labelled prior to transportation to the lab for bulk density determination. Four cores were taken at each sampling point, parallel to the edge of the land use type and composited. The samples were air-dried, ground and sieved to pass through 2-mm mesh and then analyzed for the chemical properties (pH, total N, soil organic matter, available P and exchangeable bases). Soil analyses were done using standard laboratory methods. The data subjected to linear regression with groups in GenStat 15. The soil bulk density under the Eucalyptus spp. plantation (1.6 g cm-3) was significantly higher compared to that of the native forest (1.06 g cm-3). Exchangeable calcium and total nitrogen were also significantly higher in natural forest compared to the Eucalyptus land use. v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i DEDICATION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii ABSTRACT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ iv CHAPTER ONE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 INTRODUCTION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1 Back ground of the study. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.2 Problem statement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 1.3 Justification for the study ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 1.4. Objectives of the study ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 1.4.1 General objective ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.4.2Specific objectives ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1.5 Research hypotheses ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHAPTER TWO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 LITERATURE REVIEW ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 2.1 Effects of Eucalyptus Plantation on Soil Physico-chemical Properties ---------------------------------------------------- 7 2.1.1 Soil Bulk Density ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2.1.2 Soil Moisture ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2.1.3 Soil Texture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 2.2 Effects of Eucalyptus Plantation on Soil Chemical Properties -------------------------------------------------------------- 8 2.2.1 Soil pH ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8 2.2.2 Soil Exchangeable Acidity (Al3+ and H+) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 2.2.3 Soil Organic Carbon and Soil Organic Matter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 2.2.4 Soil Total Nitrogen and Soil Available Phosphorus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 2.2.5 Soil Exchangeable Cations (Na+, Ca2+ and K+). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 2.2.6 Soil Trace Elements/Micro-Nutrients (Zn2+, Fe2+, Mn2+ and Cu2+)----------------------------------------------------- 13 CHAPTER THREE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16 METHODS AND MATERIALS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 3.1 Description of study Area -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 3.1.1 Location -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 3.1.2 Climate ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 3.1.3 Hydrology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 3.1.4 Topography and Geology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17 3.1.5 Ecological Resources ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 3.1.6 Population and ethnicity ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 3.1.6 Land use and tenure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 19 3.1.7. Site selection -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 3.3 Sampling Procedure, Mapping and Sample Preparation -------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 vi 3.4 Laboratory analyses --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 3.4.1 Soil Dry Bulk Density ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21 3.4.2 Soil Texture ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------