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PDF
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Type:
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Working Paper |
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Author:
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Mzembe, C.P. |
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Date:
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1992 |
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Agency:
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Overseas Development Institute, London |
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Series:
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Network Paper, no.13 |
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URI:
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https://hdl.handle.net/10535/4645
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Sector:
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Land Tenure & Use
Water Resource & Irrigation |
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Region:
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Africa |
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Subject(s):
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irrigation
wetlands
soil
land tenure and use
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Abstract:
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"Wetlands in Malawi, characterised by hydromorphic soils, and grass and
sedge growth throughout the year are called dambos. Topographically
dambos are usually broad, gentle sloping valleys occurring in the catchment area of Malawi's main rivers. Dambo soils are waterlogged at or near the surface for a large part of the year. These hydromorphic soils have a high watertable and are poorly drained resulting in poor aeration. They vary from coarse sands to heavy clays with a soil reaction ranging from acid to alkaline. Large variations also occur in the nutrient status and the structural stability of dambo soils. Vegetation, grass and sedge, sometimes shrubs or trees, grow even during the driest months of the year."
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