Assessment of Soil Nutrients Limiting Sustainable Potato Production in the Highlands of South-Western Uganda

Abstract

Soil fertility management is one of the major strategies for improving potato productivity in the highlands of southwestern Uganda. Land belonging to potato farmers is highly fragmented hindering sustainable potato production under smallholder farming systems. Land fragmentation brings a major challenge to small-scale farmers in soil fertility management, increasing costs of production. However, identifying major soil nutrients limiting potato production in the highlands of southwestern Uganda is an avenue of applying appropriate soil nutrients to improve potato productivity without degrading the soils. It also assists farmers in investing in the necessary soil nutrients and, hence reducing the costs of production while improving potato productivity. The study indicated that soil potassium was the most single significant soil nutrient limiting potato productivity especially in the fields located on hilltops and far from homesteads. Hence, it was imperative that farmers apply potassium containing fertilizers to minimize potassium depletion but also increase potato productivity. It was also important for farmers to always integrate disease management with soil nutrient management for improved potato productivity.

Response of potato to fertilizers applied on different soil types in Kenyan Highlands

“…The soil pH in the country is low, contributing further to P adsorption and to the unavailability of other key nutrients (Mugo et al., 2020). High soil erosion and nutrient leaching further aggravate soil fertility problems in the highlands (Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources, 2016; Muchena & Gachene, 1988; Muzira et al., 2018; Nyawade et al., 2018). Continuous farming for many years has also been linked to declining soil fertility (Willy et al., 2019).…”

“…It is estimated that 41 kg N ha −1 , 4 kg P ha −1 , and 31 kg K ha −1 is mined from soil in East Africa and that this has led to negative nutrient balances (Bekunda et al, 2002). In recent studies, N, P, S, and B were found to limit potato production (Kenya Soil Survey, 2014;Mugo et al, 2020EATA, 2014Muzira et al, 2018). Fertilizer management in the region is thus key for sustainable crop production.…”

Pectobacterium carotovorum: agente fitopatógeno causante de la pudrición blanda en la papa (Solanum tuberosum)

“…Entre fitopatógenos encontramos aquellos de origen bacteriano como Ralstonia solanacearum, que produce marchitez y atrofiamiento de la planta. Esta enfermedad es catalogada como la segunda en importancia por su capacidad para limitar la producción de papa, causando elevadas pérdidas al año (Muzira et al, 2018).…”

Linkages between Soil Acidity, Soil Plant Nutrients and Land Use on Ferralsols in Central Uganda

“…Regrettably, agricultural food production is constrained by reduced soil fertility that threatens the livelihoods of most farmers in Uganda [13]. Accelerated soil fertility reduction under the current land use in Uganda contributes to many soil management problems, including soil acidity.…”