Durham E-Theses Investigations into the nature and distribution of the sandveldt soils of the central province of Zambia with observations on their land use potential Clayton, David Barry How to cite: Clayton, David Barry (1962) Investigations into the nature and distribution of the sandveldt soils of the central province of Zambia with observations on their land use potential, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9313/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SANDVELDT SOILS OF THE CEOTRAL PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THEIR LAND USE POTENnAL by DAVID BARRY CLAYTON, B.Sc. (DUNEIM), F.R.G.S. being a thesis Submitted for the degree of Master of Science in the University of Durham June 1977. "Soil Survey - the recognition of different soils and the detennination of their important characteristics, the classification of defined soil units, the plotting of their boundaries on soil maps and, in co-operation with other specialists, the fonmilation of growth predictions - is purposeful research and its effects are far reaching. A major priority in any agricultural country must be a stocktaking of its soil resources, since these are basic to sustained production £ind its futiu'e expansion". W.M. Hamilton Secretaiiy, New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 3lst October 1962, CONTENTS , PAGE List of Maps, Figures, Tables and Plates IV Declaration .Vj Foreword VII IX Abstract Acknowledgement XI Glossary XIII Species N(menclature XIV CHAPTER PART ONE: INTRODUCnON 1 Background 3 2 The Programme 9 3 Previous Work 12 4 Methods ' 17 PART TWO: ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS 5 Climate 23 6 Geology 31 7 Gecmorphology 35 8 Vegetation 49 9 Pedological Significance of Emrironnental Factors 55 PART THREE: THE SOILS 10 General Features of Sandveldt Soils 60 11 The Sandveldt Catena 67 12 Associated Soils B9 13 Soil Genesis and Classification 95 14 Infiltration Studies and Physical Investigations 104 PART FOUR: AGRICULTURAL EVALUATION 15 Land Use Capability 107 16 Management and Productivity 114 17 Crop Suitability 124 PART FIVE: CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS 18 Conclusions 138 19 Summary Recommendations 143 CONTENTS PAGE BIBLEOGRAPHir 146 APPENDICES 1 Profile Descriptions and Analytical Data 159 2 Erosion Classification '77 3 Wetness Classification 178 4 Successive Hourly Infiltration Rates for Mushemi and Choma Series ^80 5 physical Characteristics of Mushiemi and Choma Series 181 6 Temperature and Moisture Regimes 183 IV LIST OF MAPS. FIGURES. TABLES AND PLATES MAPS Page lA Zambia, Location map. 2 IB Central Province. Location map, 5 IC Soil surveys in Central Province sandveldt areas, 1973-74. Location map.. 8 2 Generalised air^-flow pattern in January, 24 3 Rainfall in the LusaJca-^lkushi area, 24 4 Drainage and relief of the Lusaka-^lkushi area, 36 5 Geological map of the Lusaka-^flcushi area. 32 6 Vegetation map of the Lusaka-MkushL area. 50 7 Central Province soil map, I4I FIGURES 1 Genercil sandveldt landfom, block diagram. 38 lA Cross section of typical dambo. 45 2 Diagrammatic soil profile showing stone-line and laterite horizon. 62 3 Broadscale variation of depth to gravel at Kabwe Research Station. 64 4 Detailed variation of depth to'gravel at Chisamba Farms. 65 5 Distribution pattern of the soil associations and land types of the sandveldt catena. 68 5A Cooiparison of texture profiles in the sandveldt catena. 69 6 Comparison of average values of C,E.C. per lOOg clay with latitude for Mushemi series, 73 7 Slope - soil loss relationship for sandveldt soils, 120 V TABLES Page 1 Kabwe, Climate data, 28 2 Kabwe, Percentage probabilily of rainfall totals exceeding stated limits, 29 3 Probability of annual rainfall reaching stated limits. 30 4 Dates of beginning and end of raii^r season. 30 5 Vegetation types in the Lusaka-^flcushi area, 49 6 Percentage of landfoim occupied by soil associa• tions and land types of the sandveldt catena and their estimated extent in the Central Province, 70 7 Simmiarised analytical data for profiles 1 - 8, 75 8 ~ Summarised analytical data for profiles 9 - H, 8o 9 Summarised analytical data for profiles 12 and I3, 85 IX) Summarised analytical data for profiles I4 - 17. 91 11 Infiltration rates on Mushemi and Choma Series, 104 12 International classification correlation, I03 13 Criteria for determining arable land classes of sandveldt soils, 113 14 Land capability classes for sandveldt soils, 115 15 Soil losses due to erosion, 118 16 Relative suitability for specific crops, pasture and grazing under rainfed conditions. 126 17 Relative suitability for specific crops under irrigated conditions, 127 PLATES 1 Aerial Photograph illustrating dambo drainage pattern 40 2 & 3 Photographs illustrating dambo landscape in dry season, 4I 4 Aerial photograph illustrating dambo sand collars, 44 VI DECLARAnON The content of this thesis is, apart fran laboratory analyses, certain indicated profile descriptions and text references, entirely the product of my own research, and has not been submitted in candidature for a.isy other degree or diploma. D.B, CLArrON FOREWORD Zambia's national development policy is now centred on the development of agriculture and the proper utilization of renewable resources as it is now realised that the national economy cannot be sustained for ever by exploitation of non-renewable resources such as minerals. The success of our development strategy based on agricultoire and the exploitation of renewable resources such as forests and grasslands depends, among other factors, upon the availability of data concerning the quality, quantity and distribution of soil types to provide a basis for land-use and resource planning. That the Government of the Republic of Zambia had initiated and supported a soil survey programme, of which the subject of this thesis is a part, provides positive evidence of Zambia's determination to bring the rural community to play a major role in the development of the country's economy. The Central Province, the subject area of the survey, is one of the two agriculturally advanced Provinces, Southern Province being the other, in Zambia, not only in terms of production at commercial farming level but also in terms of the number of farmers emerging from traditional and subsistence agriculture to middle level ccamnercial production. VIII Soil survey in this area is, in my opinion, of high priority in order to ensure that land-Hxse and resource planning maximises the use of the various soil types and avoids their wastage in the wake of rapid agricultural expansion. The present work defines in detail the soil types found in the Central Province and indicates their land use potential. The academic value of the thesis cannot be doubted, but of great significance is its relevance to land-use and resources planning for the development of the rural sector of Central Province. The thesis will be of great value to planners, agricultural research and extension workers in the Ministry of Rural Development and other institutions in Zambia, S.M. SILANGWA SECRETARY GENERAL NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ZAMBIA IX INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE NATURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SANDVELDT SOILS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THEER LAND USE POTENTIAL ABSTRACT This thesis describes the nature and distribution of the sandveldt soils of the Central Province of Zambia, It is based on the results of detailed, semi-detailed and reconnaissance soil surveys carried out in the Province between 1972 and 1974. Sandveldt soils are light textured, developed over felsic and intemediate rocks and support Brachvstegia - Julbernardia - Isoberlinia (Miombo) woodland. They are characteristically yellowish brown where well drained, structure• less, and have low C,E,C, Base saturation is very variable and soil reaction is in the range strong to slightly acid. Regoliths are deeply weathered and relatively few weather- able minerals remain in most profiles, Sandveldt soils are Weathered Ferrallitic Soils of generally low agricultural potential. They are estimated to cover 505*000 ha, 4ljg of Central Province, The thesis is divided into five parts :- Part One explains the background leading to the requirement for soil survey work, describes the survey programme vuider- taken and methods employed, and reviews the previous work done in the area. Part Two describes in detail the climate, geology, geomorphology and vegetation of the area and explains their pedological significance. Part Three gives an account of the general features of sandveldt soils and their pattern of distribution. Six soil series comprised in a widespread catena are described in detail, A number of associated soils and landtypes are also described. The modal characteristics, genesis and classification