Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Utilisation of Fallow Land in South Central Zimbabwe

The purpose of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of fallow land between 1984 and 2010 in Zimbabwe’s communal areas and its utilisation. Chivi district, which is located in south central Zimbabwe, was used as a case study. Remote sensing techniques were used to map and determine the extent of spatial and temporal changes in fallow land. Factors influencing fallow land increase and the subsequent current utilisation were assessed using participatory and conventional methods. Vegetation characteristics and soil fertility analysis was done on fallow fields of different ages replicated five times. Soil fertility analysis and vegetation characterisation was undertaken using standard methods. The size of fallow land was found to increase by 18.23 % from 1984 to 2010 while the cultivated area decreased from 34.40% to 17.18%. Factors that caused increase in fallow land were mainly socio-economic driven rather than biophysical. Draught power shortage (34%) was ranked as the major reason of fallowing followed by labor shortage (24%) and lack of inputs (22%). Poor soil fertility (16%) and drought (4%) were ranked as least reasons for fallowing. Soil fertility was generally low with mineral N ranging between 12.67 ppm and 18.67 ppm. Available P ranged between 3.6 ppm and 4.4 ppm whilst soil pH values ranged between 4.2 and 4.6. Most fallow fields were dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants. Fallow fields over 10 years had sparse shrubs. No trees species were found in all the fallow fields. Dominant grass species in the fallows included Cynodon dactylon and Perotis patens, which had lower nutrient content compared to required quantities for livestock production. The study concluded that size of fallow land was increasing in Chivi communal areas mainly because of socioeconomic and biophysical factors, and that fallow land is mainly used for livestock grazing although the quality of grazing pasture was poor. Effort should therefore be made to increase theproductivity of fallow land by, for example, introducing technologies that improve pastures.