Spatial variability of soil secondary and micronutrients under smallholder maize production system in sub-humid condition of Zimbabwe

• Published in: Geoderma Regional 2023-09, Vol.34, p.e00693, Article e00693
• Main Authors: Soropa, Gabriel, Nyamangara, Justice, Nyakatawa, Ermson Z., Nyapwere, Newton, Lark, R. Murray
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fertilizer recommendations; Lixisols; Micronutrients; Secondary nutrients; Smallholder farmers; Spatial variability
• ISSN: 2352-0094; 2352-0094
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geodrs.2023.e00693

Achieving household and national food security is the core focus for policy makers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, land degradation and dearth of effective soil nutrient management strategies for spatially variable soils is significantly contributing to food insecurity in SSA. The aim of this study was to establish the spatial variability of soil secondary and micronutrients (SMN) under smallholder maize production system in sub-humid condition of Zimbabwe. Geo-referenced samples collected in all maize fields in seven of the eleven villages in ward 10 of Hurungwe district using purposive sampling were analyzed for Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn using standard methods. Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to reveal the relationships among the nutrient status. The linear mixed model (LMM) was used to analyse spatial variation of the data with evidence for spatial dependence in the random component of the model assessed by calculating Akaike's information criterion (AIC). The results indicate that only Ca was significantly (p