Soils and climates of SADC Southern Africa Research Sites

This report present soils data for 54 soil profiles sampled at research sites in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania. Soil chemical, biological, physical and mineralogical properties are variable and call for a site specific approach to soil management for their optimum use from low input to high input agriculture. All the soils from SADC Research sites in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Tanzania have a relatively low to medium fertility status.The main soil physical constraints are lack of moisture and subsoil hardening which is seen by the end of the dry season. Sloping lands call for an appropriate soil erosion control measures (i.e. Conservation farming, landscape approach, etc.). The soil chemical constraints are a low capacity to retain and supply nutrients, a low k reserves and a slightly acid topsoil modifier h for some locations.Climate variability is noticeable when daily rainfall data are disaggregated in different categories and climatic data reveals that 30 to 70 % of rainfall event consist of showers greater or equal to 20 mm of rainfall. This calls for a proper management for rainfall harvesting in the SADC region countries.