Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute

TARI Naliendele lies on the coastal belt of the Indian Ocean and is located at 10° 22′ 20“S, 40° 10′ 34“E and 111 metres above mean sea level. The area receives the main rainfall from December - May with second rains of scattered showers in August-October (TMA, 2009). The sandy soils of Mtwara region are considered poor for most crops. They are characterized by deep, well drained, weak structured, dark reddish-brown loamy sand topsoil over reddish brown moderately structured sandy loam to sandy clay loam subsoil.