{"id":1411,"date":"2022-09-23T20:38:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T17:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/?p=1411"},"modified":"2025-12-08T23:37:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T20:37:46","slug":"evaluation-of-soil-quality-for-predicting-productivity-of-pinus-patula-forest-plantations-in-tanzania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/evaluation-of-soil-quality-for-predicting-productivity-of-pinus-patula-forest-plantations-in-tanzania\/","title":{"rendered":"Evaluation of Soil Quality for Predicting Productivity of Pinus Patula Forest Plantations in Tanzania"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>By Joshua Stanley Maguzu<br \/>\n&#8211; PhD student under REFOREST Programme at SUA<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Background<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>This study is being conducted at Sao Hill and Shume forest plantations in Tanzania. The Sao Hill Forest Plantation (SHFP) is in Iringa Region in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. It covers a total area of 135,903 ha, of which 57,570 ha are planted while 48,200 ha are reserved for natural forest, river valleys and possible plantation expansion.<em> Pinus patula<\/em> occupies the largest plantation area, followed by <em>P. elliottii, P. caribaea<\/em>, <em>Cuppresus lusitanica<\/em>, <em>Eucalyptus saligna, E. grandis, E. maidenii, Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia mearnsii<\/em> and<em> Grevillea robusta<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Shume Forest Plantation is located in the Western part of Usambara Mountains in Lushoto District, Tanga region. The total plantation area is about 4,863 hectares and is divided into four plantation blocks, namely, Shume West (1906.7 ha), Shume East (1510.51 ha), Shagayu (693.21 ha) and Magamba block (752.84 ha). Tree species planted include <em>Juniperus procera<\/em> (pencil Cedar), <em>Cupressus<\/em> <em>lusitanica, Pinus patula<\/em> and<em> Pinus radiata.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Objectives<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>The overall research objective is to investigate the roles of soil quality in enhancing the productivity of forest plantations in Tanzania. Specifically, to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Determine site quality using soil quality indices, and dominant height and classify soils into different site quality classes in Sao Hill Forest Plantation;<\/li>\n<li>Assess the stand parameters of\u00a0<em>Pinus patula<\/em> in the site quality classes in Sao Hill Forest Plantation; and<\/li>\n<li>Determine the relationship between productivity of <em>Pinus patula<\/em>, soil quality indices and other environmental factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Research<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>A reconnaissance survey has been conducted at both Sao Hill and Shume Forest Plantations to acquire plantation information from Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) offices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The selection of divisions for data collection was conducted in the two sites. SHFP is divided into four management units namely Division I, II, III and IV. Division III was selected out of the four divisions due to its importance in terms of productivity and coverage (Table 1).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Table 1: Identified divisions, compartments and respective site classes at Sao Hill FP<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"128\"><strong>Division<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"142\"><strong>Ranges<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"168\"><strong>Compartment<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"150\"><strong>Site class<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" width=\"128\">III<\/td>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" width=\"142\">Itimbo<\/td>\n<td width=\"168\">ITW2-19A<\/td>\n<td width=\"150\">II<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"168\">ITW3-12<\/td>\n<td width=\"150\">III<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"168\">ITW4-10<\/td>\n<td width=\"150\">IV<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"168\">ITW1-22<\/td>\n<td width=\"150\">I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Shume forest plantation is divided into four divisions, namely, Shume West, Shume East, Shagayu and Magamba. Out of the four divisions, Shume &#8211; West (Gologolo) and Shume \u2013 East (Hambarawei) divisions were selected based on their production potential and coverage (Table 2).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 2: Identified divisions, compartments and site classes at Shume FP<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"172\"><strong>Division<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"266\"><strong>Compartment<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"144\"><strong>Site class<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" width=\"172\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Shume \u2013 West<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"266\">45 (13.3 ha), 45 B (5 (ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">35 (28.1 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">II<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">67 (57ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">III<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">43 (14.3 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">IV<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\" width=\"172\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Shume \u2013 East<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td width=\"266\">189 (21 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">I<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">187 (23.9 ha), 176 (8.6 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">II<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">43A (18.3 ha), 164 (9 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">III<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"266\">181A (74.5 ha)<\/td>\n<td width=\"144\">IV<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Supervisors\u2019 visitation to the study sites<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Supervisors Prof. Salim Maliondo (SUA), Prof. Josiah Z. Katani (SUA) and Prof. Ulrik Ilstedt (Sweden-SLU) visited the two field sites i.e., Sao Hill and Shume Forest Plantations to observe and discuss how field research work should be conducted. The field visit covered two days starting at Shume (2<sup>nd<\/sup> May 2022) and ending at Sao Hill (4<sup>th<\/sup> May 2022).<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1412 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-1-1024x958.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"958\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Student and supervisors assessing soil texture at Sao Hill Forest Plantation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Plots layout<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Quadrant plots of 20m x 20m were laid out based on soil catena. Twelve (12) plots per site class were established and a profile was excavated at the centre. A total of 48 plots were marked at the Sao hill forest plantation.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1413 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1073\" height=\"1380\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-796x1024.jpg 796w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-768x988.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-370x476.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-311x400.jpg 311w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-429x552.jpg 429w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-2-760x977.jpg 760w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1073px) 100vw, 1073px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The layout of plots at Sao Hill Forest Plantation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Data and sample collection<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Data collected at each plot included elevation, slope, latitude and longitude, soil profile description including horizon boundary, soil colour, structure; a collection of loose soil samples, collection of core samples for bulk density and moisture content assessment<strong>, <\/strong>collection of litter layers, plant indicators for soil nutrients status; and tree growth parameters including Dbh and height.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Profile description<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>At each plot, soil profiles were excavated at varying interval of 20 cm down to 120 cm along the soil catena (summit, middle and bottom levels). For each profile, soil colour, texture, structure, pores, temperature and meso-organisms were assessed. In addition, soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1414 size-greenville-thumb-huge alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3a-692x658.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"692\" height=\"658\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Soil colour examination<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1415 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"671\" height=\"1059\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b.jpg 609w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b-190x300.jpg 190w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b-370x584.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b-253x400.jpg 253w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-3b-350x552.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 671px) 100vw, 671px\" \/><\/strong><strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Soil texture by feeling method<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1416 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a-293x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"643\" height=\"658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a-293x300.jpg 293w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a-370x379.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a-390x400.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a-539x552.jpg 539w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4a.jpg 718w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Examining soil pores \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1417 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"644\" height=\"911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b-370x523.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b-283x400.jpg 283w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b-391x552.jpg 391w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-4b.jpg 662w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Measuring soil temperature<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1418 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"644\" height=\"788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a-370x453.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a-327x400.jpg 327w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5a-451x552.jpg 451w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1419 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5b-215x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"643\" height=\"897\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5b-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5b-370x517.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5b-286x400.jpg 286w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-5b-395x552.jpg 395w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 643px) 100vw, 643px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Identifying indicators of soil organisms<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Horizon boundary<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Data on the dominant soil forming process was described based on soil horizons. The depth of the upper and lower boundary of each horizon was measured from the surface of the soil downwards.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1420 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a-182x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"686\" height=\"1131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a-182x300.jpg 182w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a-370x609.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a-243x400.jpg 243w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a-335x552.jpg 335w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6a.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 686px) 100vw, 686px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1421 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"666\" height=\"1040\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b-370x578.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b-256x400.jpg 256w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b-354x552.jpg 354w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-6b.jpg 654w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Demarcation of soil horizon boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Loose soil samples<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Loose composite samples were collected at two different soil depths of 0-20 and 20-40 cm<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1422 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"675\" height=\"770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a-263x300.jpg 263w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a-370x422.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a-351x400.jpg 351w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7a-484x552.jpg 484w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Collection of loose top soil samples\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1423 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"751\" height=\"839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b.jpg 751w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b-269x300.jpg 269w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b-370x413.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b-358x400.jpg 358w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-7b-494x552.jpg 494w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Packing of loose soil samples for laboratory analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Collection of litter layer samples<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Litter layer samples were collected using a square box of 625 cm<sup>2<\/sup> from five points. The collected samples were bulked and weighed, and composite samples were collected for laboratory analysis.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1424 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a.jpg 672w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a-263x300.jpg 263w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a-370x423.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a-350x400.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8a-483x552.jpg 483w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Square box for litter falls collection\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1425 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"703\" height=\"765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b.jpg 703w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b-276x300.jpg 276w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b-370x403.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b-368x400.jpg 368w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-8b-507x552.jpg 507w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 703px) 100vw, 703px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Weighing composite litter layer samples <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Identification of potential plant indicators for soil nutrient availability<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>At each of 400 m<sup>2<\/sup> plot, vegetation types including natural forest tree species, shrubs, herbs and grasses were described and will be studied as potential indicators of soil nutrients status.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1426  alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"659\" height=\"855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a.jpg 615w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a-370x480.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a-308x400.jpg 308w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9a-425x552.jpg 425w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Natural forest plant species \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1427 size-full alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"745\" height=\"795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b.jpg 745w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b-370x395.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b-375x400.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-9b-517x552.jpg 517w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Shrubs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1428  alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"661\" height=\"789\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a.jpg 633w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a-251x300.jpg 251w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a-370x442.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a-335x400.jpg 335w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10a-462x552.jpg 462w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 661px) 100vw, 661px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Herb plant<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1429  alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"664\" height=\"812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b.jpg 622w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b-245x300.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b-370x453.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b-327x400.jpg 327w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-10b-451x552.jpg 451w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Grasses<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Tree growth parameters<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Trees were measured for Dbh, height (large, medium and smallest) and dominant height (Hdom).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1430  alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a.jpg 546w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a-370x475.jpg 370w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a-312x400.jpg 312w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11a-430x552.jpg 430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Measuring tree height\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1431 size-greenville-thumb-big alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11b-653x820.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"653\" height=\"820\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11b-653x820.jpg 653w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11b-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Joshua-Maguzu-Field-Reposrt-11b-370x466.jpg 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 653px) 100vw, 653px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Measuring Dbh\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Table 3: Tree growth measurements per site class at Sao Hill Forest Plantation<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 98.4345%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 12.9445%;\" width=\"90\"><strong>\u00a0Site Class<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5363%;\" width=\"270\"><strong>Total No. of trees measured for Dbh<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.7468%;\" width=\"138\"><strong>Dbh (cm) Range<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.0655%;\" width=\"118\"><strong>Hdom (m)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 12.9445%;\" width=\"90\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5363%;\" width=\"270\">467<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.7468%;\" width=\"138\">6 \u2013 26<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.0655%;\" width=\"118\">22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 12.9445%;\" width=\"90\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5363%;\" width=\"270\">539<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.7468%;\" width=\"138\">6.2 \u2013 32.7<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.0655%;\" width=\"118\">25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 12.9445%;\" width=\"90\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5363%;\" width=\"270\">557<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.7468%;\" width=\"138\">5 \u2013 33<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.0655%;\" width=\"118\">21.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 12.9445%;\" width=\"90\">4<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 41.5363%;\" width=\"270\">401<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 25.7468%;\" width=\"138\">4 \u2013 20<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 18.0655%;\" width=\"118\">10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">The Way Forward<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>My next step is to undertake similar data collection at the Shume Forest plantation applying the same procedures used at Sao Hill Forest Plantation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Joshua Stanley Maguzu &#8211; PhD student under REFOREST Programme at SUA Background This study is being conducted at Sao Hill and Shume forest plantations in Tanzania. The Sao Hill Forest Plantation (SHFP) is in Iringa Region in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. It covers a total area of 135,903 ha, of which 57,570 ha&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1488,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-students-blog","category-48","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1411"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1489,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1411\/revisions\/1489"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/reforest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}