Abstract

The potential of animal manure, leaf litter, anthill soil, ash, and compost to supply nutrients was investigated in samples collected from 16 villages from four wards in Chivi district, Zimbabwe. The objective of the study was to generate a biophysical knowledge base on the nutrient status of soil amendments. A total of 134 samples of amendments were collected from homesteads and analyzed for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and boron (B). With the exception of Cu, no significant differences (P > 0.05) in selected nutrients were found among the different types of soil amendments. Most of the amendments sampled had medium to low levels of nutrients. It was concluded that most of the soil amendments in the selected villages are of poor nutrient status. It is recommended to find management practices that minimize nutrient losses as well as to supplement the nutrients with inorganic fertilisers.

Key words: Soil amendments, nutrients, villages, communal areas.