Growing Tithonia Diversifolia for Fertility Restitution of Technosols from Coltan Mined Soils of Gatumba, Rwanda

Abstract: 
The present study was conducted to evaluate the capacity of Tithonia diversifolia to mobilise nutrients and the ability of technosols to produce tithonia biomass for fertility restitution. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted and tithonia green manure (T) was applied at 5 t dry matter (DM) ha-1 alone and in combination with TSP and ammonium sulphate (AS). After three months, Tithonia was harvested and plant tissues and soils were analysed in Rwanda and in Germany. Results showed that despite the poor nutrients status of pegmatite, it could give more tithonia biomass than its mixture with Lixisol Bt when amended. The accumulation of nutrients was found to be even higher in tithonia biomass produced on pegmatite.
L’étude présente a été menée pour évaluer la capacité de Tithonia diversifolia de mobiliser les éléments nutritifs ainsi que la capacité de technosols de produire la biomasse de tithonia pour restitution la fertilité du sol. Une expérience dans les pots de la serre a été menée et tithonia engrais vert (T) a été appliqué à 5 t matière sèche (MS) ha-1 seul et en combinaison avec TSP et sulfate d’ammonium (SA). Après trois mois, Tithonia a été moissonné et les échantillons des tissus et des sols ont été analysés au Rwanda et en Allemagne. Les résultats ont montré qu’en dépit du statut des éléments nutritifs pauvre de pegmatite, il pourrait donner plus de biomasse de tithonia que son mélange avec Lixisol Bt lorsque amendé. L’accumulation d’éléments nutritifs a été trouvée pour être même plus haut dans la biomasse du tithonia produit sur pegmatite.
Language: 
English
Extended abstract under Enhancing Natural Resource Management
Date of publication: 
2012
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants. This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Enhancing Natural Resource Management.