Characterization of soils in the Gamodubu landfill area in the Kweneng District, Botswana

Abstract

Understanding soil attributes guides arable farming initiatives in many countries, especially developing countries. In this study, soils of the Gamodubu area, in the Kweneng District, Botswana, were analysed to determine their suitability for arable farming. Soil organic matter (SOM) was estimated by determining soil organic carbon (SOC) times a factor. Five samples of soil were collected in the Gamodubu area for evaluation in the laboratory. There was positive correlation between soil organic matter and soil organic carbon of the 5 samples. Organic carbon percentages ranged from 3.44% to 4.90% while organic matter percentages ranged from 5.85% to 8.42%. The SOM/SOC ratios varied from 1.70 to 1.72 for the 5 soil samples. The pH among the soil samples ranged from 4.65 to 6.80 signalling slightly acidic to almost neutral pH conditions. Most plants grow in the 5.5 to 7.5 pH range. Luvisol soil group was found to be the dominant class in the study area rendering the soil in the area to be highly fertile. Loamy sand soil was found in four soil samples.The findings of this study will not only guide future arable farming assistance programmes by the government, but will also provide valuable reference information for future studies on the soils of the Gamodubu area.