Status, priorities and needs for

sustainable
t i bl soilil managementt iin
Zambia

S
Stalin S
Sichinga
Zambia
a b a Agriculture
g cu tu e Research
esea c
Institute
 Introduction

Zambia has an area of 750,000 km2 with about

13.9 million people and ample land resources

0ut of 9 million ha cultivable land,

only 14% is cropped in any year

About 55 - 60% of the land area is covered byy

natural forest and
6% of Zambia‘s land surface is covered by water.
 Agro-ecological regions and soil distribution
The country is classified into three agro-ecological regions based
yp , rainfall,, and other climatic conditions
on soil types,

Agro-Ecological Regions
N
Chiengi Kaputa
Mpulungu

W E Nchelenge Mbala
Nakonde
Mporokoso
S Kawambwa Mungwi
Isoka
Scale 1: 2,500,000
Mwense Luwingu Kasama

Chinsali

Mansa
Chilubi
Chama LEGEND

Agro-ecological Region I
Samfya

Mwinilunga
Milenge Mpika Regions
Chililabombwe

Solwezi Chingola Mufulira Lundazi I

Kalulushi Kitwe

Lufwanyama Luans hya

Ndola
IIa

Annual rainfall is <750mm

Chavuma Serenje Mambwe
Masaiti
Kabompo IIb
Zambezi Mpongwe Chipata
Mufumbwe Kasempa Petauke
Katete Chadiza
III
Kapiri Mposhi Mkushi
Nyimba
Kabwe
Lukulu
Kaoma
Mumbwa Chibombo
Kalabo Chongwe
Mongu
Lusaka Urban Luangwa
Itezhi-Tezhi Kafue
Mazabuka
Senanga
Namwala
Monze
Siavonga
KEY
Sesheke Gwembe
Shangombo Choma
District boundary

e
Kalomo

gw
Kazungula

on
az
Sin
Livingstone

200 0 200 400 Kilometers

December 2002

The region contains a diversity of soil types ranging from

slightly acidic Nitosols to alkaline Luvisols with pockets of
Vertisols, Arenosols, Leptosols and, Solonetz.
The physical limitations of region I soils
Hazards to erosion,
li i d soilil d
limited depth
h iin the
h hill
hills and
d escarpment zones,
presence of hardpans in the pan dambo areas,
poor workability
p y in the cracking g clay
y soils,,
problems of crusting in most parts of the Southern province,
low water-holding capacities and the problem of wetness in
the valley dambos
dambos, plains and swamps
swamps.

Chemical limitations of region

g I soils
Some soils have salt content of which sodium is
predominant, causing problems of sodicity and salinity,
acidity and low nutrient reserves and retention capacity
capacity.
 .

Agro-ecological Region II
Rainfall
R i f ll 750
750-1000mm.
1000
Subdivided based on differences in soil types.

Agro-Ecological Regions
N
Chiengi Kaputa
Mpulungu

W E Nchelenge Mbala
Nakonde
Mporokoso
S Kawambwa Mungwi
Isoka
Scale 1: 2,500,000
Mwense Luwingu Kasama

Chinsali

Mansa
Chilubi
Chama LEGEND
Samfya

Sub-region IIa, soils are largely Mwinilunga

Milenge Mpika Regions
Chililabombwe

Solwezi Chingola Mufulira Lundazi I

Kalulushi Kitwe

Lufwanyama Luans hya

Ndola
IIa
Chavuma Serenje Mambwe
Masaiti
Kabompo IIb

classified as Lixisols, Luvisols, Alisols,

Zambezi Mpongwe Chipata
Mufumbwe Kasempa Petauke
Katete Chadiza
III
Kapiri Mposhi Mkushi
Nyimba
Kabwe
Lukulu
Kaoma
Mumbwa Chibombo
Kalabo Chongwe
Mongu

Acrisols Leptosols and Vertisols

Acrisols,
Lusaka Urban Luangwa
Itezhi-Tezhi Kafue
Mazabuka
Senanga
Namwala
Monze
Siavonga
KEY
Sesheke Gwembe
Shangombo Choma
District boundary

e
Kalomo

gw
Kazungula

on
az
Sin
Livingstone

200 0 200 400 Kilometers

December 2002

These are some of the best agricultural soils in Zambia and

they host much of the country’s
country s commercial farming sector
Agro-ecological Region II
Rainfall
R i f ll 750
750-1000mm.
1000
Subdivided based on differences in soil types.

Agro-Ecological Regions
N
Chiengi Kaputa
Mpulungu

Sub-region IIb W

Scale 1: 2,500,000
E Nchelenge

Kawambwa
Mporokoso
Mbala

Mungwi
Nakonde

Isoka

Mwense Luwingu Kasama

Chinsali

Mansa
Chilubi
Chama LEGEND
Samfya

Contains a range of Mwinilunga

Solwezi
Chililabombwe

Chingola

Kalulushi
Mufulira

Kitwe
Milenge Mpika

Lundazi
Regions
I
Ndola
IIa

Arenosols, Gleysols,
Lufwanyama Luanshya

Chavuma Serenje Mambwe

Masaiti
Kabompo IIb
Zambezi Mpongwe Chipata
Mufumbwe Kasempa Petauke
Katete Chadiza
III
Kapiri Mposhi Mkushi
Nyimba

Histosls, and Podzols

Kabwe
Lukulu
Kaoma
Mumbwa Chibombo
Kalabo Chongwe
Mongu
Lusaka Urban Luangwa
Itezhi-Tezhi Kafue
Mazabuka
Senanga
Namwala
Monze
Siavonga
KEY
Sesheke Gwembe
Shangombo Choma
District boundary

e
Kalomo

gw
Kazungula

on
az
Sin
Livingstone

200 0 200 400 Kilometers

December 2002
The physical limitations of region II soils
llow water
t hholding
ldi capacity,
it
shallow rooting depth,
rapid physical deterioration
deterioration,
erosion hazard and poor workability

Chemical limitations of region II soils

low nutrient reserves and retention capacity,
low calcium, magnesium and phosphorous,
low organic matter content and high acidity in some
pockets
 Agro-ecological Region III
Hi h rainfall
High i f ll region
i off Z
Zambia
bi >1000mm
1000 per annum.
Agro-Ecological Regions
N
Chiengi Kaputa
Mpulungu

W E Nchelenge Mbala
Nakonde
Mporokoso
S Kawambwa Mungwi

Predominant soils: Acrisols,

Isoka
Scale 1: 2,500,000
Mwense Luwingu Kasama

Chinsali

Mansa
Chilubi
Chama LEGEND
and some Ferralsols developed Mwinilunga

Solwezi
Chililabombwe

Chingola Mufulira
Milenge
Samfya

Mpika

Lundazi
Regions
I

under conditions of high

Kalulushi Kitwe

Lufwanyama
y Luanshya
Ndola
IIa
Chavuma Serenje Mambwe
Masaiti
Kabompo IIb
Zambezi Mpongwe Chipata
Mufumbwe Kasempa Petauke
Katete Chadiza
III
Kapiri Mposhi Mkushi

leaching intensity Kalabo

Lukulu

Mongu
Kaoma
Mumbwa Chibombo
Kabwe

Lusaka Urban
Chongwe
Nyimba

Luangwa
Itezhi-Tezhi Kafue
Mazabuka
Senanga
Namwala
Monze
Siavonga
KEY
Sesheke Gwembe
Shangombo Choma
District boundary

e
Kalomo

gw
Kazungula

on
az
Sin
Livingstone

200 0 200 400 Kilometers

December 2002

Soils are characterized by soil acidity,

low bases retention capacity,
lo soil organic matter,
low matter low
lo general soil fertility
fertilit and soil
degradation
 Major Soil group classification
Soils of Zambia
LEGEND
N Soils Types
W E A i l
Acrisols

S
Alisols

%
Arenosols
Kasama
Cambisols

Ferralsols
%
M
Mwansa Fluvisols

Gleysols
%
Solwezi Histosols

Leptosols
%
Ndola
Chipata Lixisols
%
Luvisols

Nitisols
Kabwe
%

Phaeozems

Planosols
% %
M
Mongu L saka
Lusaka Podzols

Regosols

KEY Solonchaks

Solonetz
%
Provincial Capital
Vertisols
Lakes
% Associations
Livingstone

Soil Survey Unit, Mt. Makulu April 2003

 Main Challenge of Agriculture
Productivity in Zambia
The declining soil fertilit
fertility
 soil erosion and degradation and little or non-
use of manure or chemical fertilizer and the
ravages of erratic rainfall.

Need to improve and manage soil fertility in

Zambia

There are several options of positive soil fertility

management practices available to farmers
 Summary of soil fertility management
practices in Zambia
p
Technology Category Practice Advantage
Reduction in fertilizer use,

Improved soil fertility, pest

Crop rotation
Legumes after cereals and disease control
control, weed

control (e.g. striga)

Cultural
2-3 year fallow phase Improve soil fertility,
Practices
Agro forestry with tree species like
improved
p o ed Gliricidia, Acacia, control and avoid soil erosion,
Leucaena, Sesbania,
fallow
Tephrosia, etc cost effective or reduce the use
of chemical fertilizer,

improve soil structure

 Summary of soil fertility management
practices in Zambia

Technology Category Practice Advantage

C lt l
Cultural
Velvet beans and Improve soil structure and fertility,
Practices Sun hemp either leading to vigorous growth of the
Green manure incorporated or left following crop and reduce erosion
crop fallows
f ll on the
th surface
f

Compost Mixed plant residues, animal dung, Improves soil structure, reduce
manure earth / soil materials, wood ash, erosion and improves water and
practices water nutrient holding capacity of the soil
 Summary of soil fertility management
practices in Zambia

Technology Category Practice Advantage

Ripping, basins
Erosion Conservation and minimum
control tillage tillage Erosion control and rain
practices water infiltration

Contour Vertiver grass

conservation
Dolomitic (more magnesium than Reduces soil acidity, make
calcium) or calcitic (more calcium nutrients readily available
Liming than magnesium) lime for crop uptake and
eliminates
li i t aluminium
l i i
toxicity
 Summary of soil fertility management
practices in Zambia
Technology Category Practice Advantage

Enhances biological nitrogen fixation

Rhi bi inoculum
Rhizobia i l i llegumes and
in d iincreases yields
i ld
Inoculum

Basal and top Supply the nutrients needed for

Fertilizers* dressing fertilizers enhanced crop production

*Wherever possible, it is recommended that farmers should combine organic and inorganic nutrient sources
for sustainable crop production
 Thank You
f your attention
for i