Characterization of soils in the Gamodubu landfill area in the Kweneng District, Botswana

Understanding soil attributes guides arable farming initiatives in many countries, especially developing
countries. In this study, soils of the Gamodubu area, in the Kweneng District, Botswana, were analysed to
determine their suitability for arable farming. Soil organic matter (SOM) was estimated by determining soil
organic carbon (SOC) times a factor. Five samples of soil were collected in the Gamodubu area for evaluation in
the laboratory. There was positive correlation between soil organic matter and soil organic carbon of the 5
samples. Organic carbon percentages ranged from 3.44% to 4.90% while organic matter percentages ranged
from 5.85% to 8.42%. The SOM/SOC ratios varied from 1.70 to 1.72 for the 5 soil samples. The pH among the soil
samples ranged from 4.65 to 6.80 signalling slightly acidic to almost neutral pH conditions. Most plants grow in
the 5.5 to 7.5 pH range. Luvisol soil group was found to be the dominant class in the study area rendering the
soil in the area to be highly fertile. Loamy sand soil was found in four soil samples.The findings of this study
will not only guide future arable farming assistance programmes by the government, but will also provide
valuable reference information for future studies on the soils of the Gamodubu area.