{"paper_id":"1fe8de1c-1362-48c5-a2ca-8fc1fb08f5e0","body_text":"Deciphering the Impact of FOMI Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on pH and Organic Carbon of the Soils under Tobacco Production in Tanzania | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Deciphering the Impact of FOMI Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on pH and Organic Carbon of the Soils under Tobacco Production in Tanzania Jacob Lisuma, Elimboto Muna, Geofrey Gama, Rogath Kisoka, Elly Maerere, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract A study was conducted in selected tobacco producing areas in Tanzania to evaluate the impact of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers on soil pH and soil organic carbon levels after harvesting the tobacco crop K326 from the three sites of Tumbi-Tabora, Mtanila-Chunya and Ushetu-Shinyanga in 2023/24 cropping season. The experiment involved eight treatments: an unfertilized control; standard NPK fertilizers at 500 kg ha -1 and CAN at 133 kg ha -1 ; FOMI SUPA applied at 1000, 800, and 600 kg ha -1 on day 7, combined with FOMI CANS at 133, 83, and 67 kg ha -1 on day 21; and FOMI GREEN at 650, 517, and 383 kg ha -1 on day 7, combined with FOMI NENEPESHA at 233, 183, and 133 kg ha -1 on day 21. Results showed that all FOMI fertilizers improved soil pH at all application rates without significant differences between them. The soil organic carbon content improved significantly ( p =0.001 ) to 0.21 ± 0.00% from the initial level to the depth of 20 cm when FOMI SUPA (T3) was applied at 1000 kg ha -1 on day 7 and FOMI CANS at 133 kg ha -1 on day 21. Other treatments, including FOMI SUPA (T4) at 800 kg ha -1 and FOMI GREEN (T6) at 650 kg ha -1 , improved organic carbon to 0.20 ± 0.00%, without significant differences. Conclusively, FOMI fertilizers are effective in improving soil pH and organic carbon, highlighting their potential for sustainable use in tobacco cultivation, enhancing soil health. soil pH organic carbon soil health sustainable agriculture tobacco FOMI fertilizers Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 1.0 Introduction Soil is the key to agriculture; it has a significant connection to the survival of human beings and hence accounts for a useful resource for the development of any nation when soil is tillaged for crop production (Malvezi et al., 2019 ). Inorganic fertilization is an important measure in agricultural production, as it improves soil nutrients for increased crop yield (Chen et al., 2014 ; Ibrahim et al., 2015 ). However, prolonged use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to nutrient imbalance, reduce organic matter, and cause more serious issues in the soil environment's ecology (Hartmann et al. 2014 ; Yang et al. 2019 ). Tanzania's tobacco sector has been importing tobacco inorganic fertilizer for over seven decades. Researchers have found that long-term use of inorganic fertilizer alone degrades soil organic matter, makes the soil more acidic, and pollutes the environment by causing heavy metals to build up, which lowers the quality and health of the soil (Roba, 2018 ; Jiang et al., 2006 ; Dutta et al., 2022 ; Jote, 2023 ). However, researchers have found that a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers can enhance soil health (Kumar et al., 2024 ). Recently, using organo-mineral fertilizers has become popular as a way for the fertilizer industry to combine organic and inorganic fertilizers and rock resources to improve soil health and fertility. Researchers have also linked it to improved mineral nutrient use efficiency (Smith et al., 2020 ; Bouhia et al., 2022 ). The concept of organic culture has emerged as a result of the promotion of organic fertilizers to counteract the negative effects of chemical fertilizers (Singh et al., 2020 ; Michael, 2021 ). Organic fertilizers include compost, farmyard manure, bacterial biofertilizer, or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Returning organic amendments to the field can alleviate soil problems, improve the soil components by increasing soil organic matter, and improve soil fertility to a certain extent. This advantage could be due to the fact that organic materials in the organomineral fertilizers themselves contain a significant amount of organic matter and functional microorganisms, which can effectively transform the nutrients in the soil. However, it's important to note that many of these microorganisms may not be cultivable. Organomineral fertilizers improve soil physical properties, reduce soil acidity, improve soil bulk density, increase water infiltration rate, increase soil porosity and aeration, reduce nutrient leaching, and increase soil organic carbon. By boosting the amount of organic carbon, the soil's humus content rises, and it alters the biological characteristics of the soil, fostering the growth of beneficial macro- and microorganisms. This, in turn, improves soil fertility and boosts crop productivity, all while utilizing eco-friendly and economical methods (Singh et al., 2020 ). In Tanzania, the Fertilisants Organo Minéraux (FOMI), the organomineral fertilizers produced by the International Trading Company (ITRACOM) Fertilizers Ltd was tested on tobacco field experiments to evaluate the effects of the fertilizers on soil pH and SOC in the cropping season 2023/24. The field experiment was carried out to address the need to replenish the soil health status under tobacco crop cultivation, which has progressively resulted in increased soil acidity, due to necessitated prolonged use of higher rates of inorganic NPK fertilizer as a critical requirement in the Tanzanian tobacco sector. ITRACOM Fertilizers Ltd manufactured basal fertilizers FOMI GREEN (N 10 P 14 K 11 ) and FOMI SUPA (N 5 P 9 K 12 ) NPK and top-dressing fertilizers FOMI NENEPESHA (N 11 P 0 K 22 ) and FOMI CANS (N 18 P 0 K 1 ) respectively, for tobacco crops and researched the application rates suiting the Tanzania fertilizer specifications in collaboration with the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA). The tobacco research trials were carried out in three geographic areas of Tumbi, at Tabora; Mtanila at Chunya; and Ushetu at Shinyanga, representing tobacco zonation in Tanzania. All these areas are under the miombo woodland zone. Miombo woodland soils in Tanzania are generally nutrient-poor, often derived from acid crystalline bedrock, and exhibit varying textures and pH levels. The soils can range from sandy to different loams, with pH typically between 5.1 and 5.9. Organic carbon and cation exchange capacity (CEC) also vary, influencing soil fertility and nutrient availability (Shelukindo et al., 2014 ). A technology that improved both soil pH and SOC and general soil health, such as organomineral fertilizers is very important for sustainable farming in these naturally poor soils. However, limited research is available on the precise quantification of the magnitude of change attributed to the use of OMF in tobacco farming in Tanzania. Additionally, the tobacco sector in Tanzania is targeting increasing tobacco leaf yields to 200,000 metric tons by the crop season 2025/26. The foreseen increase of the tobacco leaf yields compels for the availability and use of high-quality organic fertilizers. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the influence of use of FOMI organomineral fertilizers on soil pH and soil organic matter and its potential in enhancing soil health for the sustainability of tobacco production. 2.0 Materials and Methodology 2.1. Description of the experimental sites The selected soil characteristics (nutrients) of the experimental sites are presented on Table 1 . During the 2024–25 cropping season, field experiments were carried out at the Tumbi site, Tabora region, Ushetu in Shinyanga and Mtanila, in Chunya-Mbeya. Tumbi site located at 5°3'41.96772\" S, 32°40'13.07892\" E; 1168 m a.s.l in Tabora District had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 29°C and 1050 mm, respectively; Ushetu, located at 4°7'15.76488\" S, 32°16'7.61664\" E, 1,153 m a.s.l in Shinyanga region had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 25°C and 890 mm, respectively. Mtanila located at 7°54'26.02044\" S, 33°19'21.8226\" E, 1,368 m a.s.l. in Chunya Mbeya region had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 24°C and 750 mm, respectively. Table 1 lists the specific soil characteristics of the experimental location. The Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania's (TORITA) K326 tobacco seed variety was utilized. Table 1 Some soil physical-chemical characteristics before the experiment S/No Parameter Unit Ushetu-Shinyanga Tumbi-Tabora Mtanila- Chunya 1 OC % 0.18 0.18 0.21 2 pH (water) - 5.17 5.11 5.09 3 Total N % 0.02 0.02 0.02 4 Avail P mg kg − 1 7.99 6.57 5.00 5 Exch K cmol + kg − 1 0.40 0.45 0.42 6 Exch Ca cmol + kg − 1 0.40 0.42 0.59 7 Texture class - Loamy sand Loamy sand Sandy loam We sowed tobacco seed (K326) from TORITA in a 1.5 m wide and 20 m deep seedbed. The seedlings were raised in a seedbed of 1.5 x 20 m and fertilized with 5 kg of the NPK used for basal application as per the treatments given below. Eight weeks after sowing, the seedlings were transplanted to the experimental plots at a spacing of 1.2 m between ridges and 0.50 m between plants, making a total of 24 plants per plot of size 4.8 m x 3 m, equivalent to population of 16,666 plants/ha. The tests were set up in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments, with 4 replications, in the 3 sites. The standard basal fertilizer composed of NPK (10:18:24) + 0.5MgO + 3CaO + 7S + 0.012B and its topdressing fertilizer composed of CAN 27%N + 1.7MgO + 3CaO + 3S. The FOMI SUPA basal fertilizer composed of NPK (5:9:12) + 3CaO + 1MgO + 4S + 0.01B and its topdressing FOMI CANS fertilizer composed of NPK 19:0:1) + 3CaO + 2Mg0 + 4S. The FOMI GREEN basal fertilizer composed of NPK (10:14:11) + 7CaO + 1MgO and its topdressing FOMI NENEPESHA composed of NPK (11:0:22) + 4CaO + 2MgO. Table 2 shows the rates and times of application for both basal and topdressing fertilizers in each treatment. Table 2 Experimental treatments across the sites No. Basal and Topdressing Fertilizers Basal rate at 7 DAT Topdressing rate at 21 DAT 1. UNFERTILIZED 0 kg ha − 1 0 kg ha − 1 2. STANDARD (ST) + CAN (CN) 500 kg ha − 1 N 10 P 18 K 24 133 kg ha − 1 CAN27%N 3. FOMI SUPA (FS) + FOMI CANS (FC) 1000 kg ha − 1 N 5 P 9 K 12 133 kg ha − 1 N 18 P 0 K 1 4. FOMI SUPA (FS) + FOMI CANS (FC) 800 kg ha − 1 N 5 P 9 K 12 83 kg ha − 1 N 18 P 0 K 1 5. FOMI SUPA (FS) + FOMI CANS (FC) 600 kg ha − 1 N 5 P 9 K 12 67 kg ha − 1 N 18 P 0 K 1 6. FOMI GREEN (FG) + FOMI NENEPESHA (FN) 650 kg ha − 1 N 10 P 14 K 11 233 kg ha − 1 N 11 P 0 K 22 7. FOMI GREEN (FG) + FOMI NENEPESHA (FN) 517 kg ha − 1 N 10 P 14 K 11 183 kg ha − 1 N 11 P 0 K 22 8. FOMI GREEN (FG) + FOMI NENEPESHA (FN) 383 kg ha − 1 N 10 P 14 K 11 133 kg ha − 1 N 11 P 0 K 22 Key: DAT = Days after transplanting tobacco seedlings Throughout the experiments, we kept the experimental plots free of weeds and applied pesticides only after counting the number of pests present. We used Confidor at the rate of 10g 10L − 1 of water as a pesticide across all sites. Tobacco plants were topped, followed by the application of Yamaotea Super 305 EC at the rate of 8 mls 10 L − 1 of water as a suckercide. 2.3. Soil Samples Analysis Prior to the Experiment A zigzag method for soil sampling to a depth of 0–30 cm using soil auger was adopted across the sites to make a composite sample at each site before the trial and at each plot to make a composite sample after the trial. The soil composite samples were used to determine the soil pH using a soil water ratio of 1:2.5, soil organic carbon (SOC) by the Walkley Black method, total N by the Kjedahl method, available P by the Bray-1 method, exchangeable Ca, and K by atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (Moberg 2000 ). 2.4. Analyses of Statistics The data collected on efficacy of fertilizer rates by and across sites were analysed using a two factors analysis of variance ANOVA. The analysis covered the different rates of two basal FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers, as well as their top-dressed counterparts. The STATISTICA 8th Edition, StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA, was used. The significant means were compared using Fisher’s least significant difference at p = 0.05. 3.0 Results Table 3 shows the results of the impact of FOMI fertilizer application on soil pH, and soil organic carbon. The Ushetu-Shinyanga site had a significant improvement in soil pH of 5.18 ± 0.00 than before the experiment (soil pH of 5.17), followed by the Mtanila-Chunya site, which had an improved soil pH of 5.16 ± 0.01 than before the experiment (5.09), and the Tumbi-Tabora site, which had an improved soil pH of 5.14 ± 0.01 than soil pH of 5.11 before the experiment. The Mtanila-Chunya site had a significantly ( p = 0.001 ) higher content of organic soil carbon of 0.21 ± 0.00% in similar content than before the experiment, followed by Tumbi-Tabora and Ushetu-Shinyanga, which had 0.19 ± 0.00% and 0.18 ± 0.00%, respectively. The soil organic carbon in the Tumbi, Tabora site has improved compared to its level before the experiment, which was 0.18%, while at the Ushetu-Shinyanga site, there was no change in soil organic carbon. Table 3 Effect of application of FOMI fertilizers on soil pH, and soil organic carbon Sites Soil pH Soil OC (%) Mtanila-Chunya 5.16 ± 0.01 b 0.21 ± 0.00 a Tumbi-Tabora 5.14 ± 0.01 c 0.19 ± 0.00 b Ushetu-Shinyanga 5.18 ± 0.00 a 0.18 ± 0.00 c Treatments T1 - Unfertilized 5.12 ± 0.01 b 0.18 ± 0.00 e T2–500 kg ha − 1 ST + 133 kg ha − 1 CN 5.12 ± 0.01 b 0.18 ± 0.00 e T3–1000 kg ha − 1 FS + 133 kg ha − 1 FC 5.18 ± 0.01 a 0.21 ± 0.00 a T4–800 kg ha − 1 FS + 83 kg ha − 1 FC 5.18 ± 0.01 a 0.20 ± 0.00 b T5–600 kg ha − 1 FS + 67 kg ha − 1 FC 5.17 ± 0.01 a 0.19 ± 0.00 c T6–650 kg ha − 1 FG + 233 kg ha − 1 FN 5.18 ± 0.01 a 0.20 ± 0.00 b T7–517 kg ha − 1 FG + 183 kg ha − 1 FN 5.18 ± 0.01 a 0.19 ± 0.00 c T8–383 kg ha − 1 FG + 133 kg ha − 1 FN 5.17 ± 0.01 a 0.19 ± 0.00 c 2-WAY ANOVA F-statistics Site (S) 19*** 109.43*** Treatment (T) 16*** 27.88*** S x T 3*** 1.22ns Key: Means in the same category of evaluated interface sharing similar letter(s) do not differ significantly based on their respective Standard error (SE) at a 5% error rate. Values presented are means ± SE x̅ (Standard error of means); *** means significant at P < 0.001 The treatments that had the lowest pH levels in the soil were the absolute control (T1) and the standard treatment (T2), with pH levels of 5.12 ± 0.01 and 5.12 ± 0.01, respectively. The FOMI fertilizer treatments (T3-T8) did not differ significantly in soil pH levels ranging from 5.17 ± 0.01 to 5.18 ± 0.01 (Table 3 ). Soil organic carbon results showed the significantly lowest soil organic carbon recorded in absolute treatment (T1) and the standard treatment (T2), with 0.18 ± 0.00% respectively. The treatment (T3) basal application using FOMI SUPA (1000 kg ha − 1 ) and top-dressed with FOMI CANS (133 kg ha − 1 ) had significantly ( p = 0.001 ) higher soil organic carbon, reaching 0.21 ± 0.00%, followed by treatment (T4) fertilized with 800 kg ha − 1 of basal FOMI SUPA and FOMI CANS as top-dressing with 83 kg ha − 1 and treatment (T6) fertilized with 650 kg ha − 1 of basal FOMI GREEN and top-dressed with FOMI NENEPESHA with 233 kg ha − 1 , which had soil organic content of 0.20 ± 0.00%, respectively. Treatments (T5) fertilized with the same kind of fertilizer as T3 and T4 but with 600 kg ha − 1 and 67 kg ha − 1 for basal and top-dressing fertilizer, and treatments T7 and T8 fertilized with similar fertilizers as T6 but with 517 and 383 kg ha − 1 for basal fertilizer, and top-dressed with 183 and 133 kg ha − 1 as top-dressing, had 0.19 ± 0.00% of soil organic carbon. 4.0 Discussion The application of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizer had the impact of reducing soil acidity. Before applying FOMI fertilizers, the soil pH for the Ushetu-Shinyanga site was 5.17± (Table 1 ); after the trial, it was 5.18±, indicating a reduction in soil acidity by 0.01 unit for two application seasons. The soil pH for Tumbi-Tabora following the application of organic FOMI fertilizers reduced the pH by 0.03 units, while the soil pH for the Mtanila-Chunya site reduced by 0.07 units. This indicates that the use of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers results in a favourable response by reduction the soil pH, as shown in Table 3 and Fig. 1 . The more acidic the soils, the more their pH changes as a result of using organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers (Fig. 2 ). For the case of treatment results, it indicated that the standard fertilizer N 10 P 18 K 24 (T2) did not improve the soil pH and did not differ in its results from the absolute treatment (T1), which did not receive any fertilizer. However, all the organic FOMI SUPA (N 5 P 9 K 12 ), FOMI CANS (N 18 P 0 K 1 ), FOMI GREEN (N 10 P 14 K 11 ), and FOMI NENEPESHA (N 11 P 0 K 22 ) fertilizers (T3-T8) increased soil pH significantly ( p = 0.001 ) compared to the standard fertilizer (T2). The improvement of soil pH could be attributed to the calcium and magnesium oxides content combined in FOMI fertilizers. Therefore, the long application of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers could alleviate the soil acidity in tobacco-growing areas in the future. Other studies also observed a similar trend for a long-term application of organic fertilizer for improving soil acidity (Wang et al., 2023 ; Zhang et al., 2023 ; Liang et al., 2024 ; & Mutai et al., 2025 ). Application of FOMI fertilizer in the Mtanila-Chunya site resulted in a significantly high content of soil organic carbon of 0.21 ± 0.00% (Table 3 ). Tumbi-Tabora site was the next to have a slight increase in soil organic carbon by 0.01% to 0.19 ± 0.00%. The soil organic carbon for Ushetu-Shinyanga site, was not observed acidic in comparison to Mtanila-Chunya and Tumbi-Tabora (Fig. 2 ). The inherent levels of soil organic carbon could have been attributed to the improvement of soil organic carbon. The standard treatment (T2) applied with standard NPK (10:18:24) at the rate of 500 kg ha − 1 and top-dressed with CAN 27%N (133 kg ha − 1 ), did not improve the soil organic carbon, similar to the unfertilized treatment (T1). The application of basal higher rates of 1000 kg ha − 1 FOMI SUPA and top-dressing with 133 kg ha − 1 FOMI CANS resulted in significantly to cause an increase of soil organic carbon, probably due to the nature of the soil that was not too ( p = 0.001 ) improve the soil organic carbon (0.21 ± 0.00%). The soil organic carbon level dropped to 0.20 ± 0.00% with a basal application rate of 800 kg ha − 1 and a top-dressing rate of 83 kg ha − 1 . This did not differ significantly from the treatment that used 650 kg ha − 1 of FOMI GREEN for the base and 233 kg ha − 1 of FOMI NENEPESHA for the top-dressing. These results show that the organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers enhance soil organic carbon more than the standard fertilizer. Organo-mineral fertilizers are known to be beneficial for the recycling and preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soils. The FOMI fertilizers are composed of organic functional groups enriched with oxidized and aliphatic carbon (Jones & Singh, 2014 ). These different C species of mineral surfaces enhance the chemical composition of OC bound in surfaces and become stable in organo-mineral. Through this mechanism, FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers become beneficial for the recycling and preservation of organic carbon in soils. Thus, the use of higher rates of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer (1000 kg ha − 1 ) indicated increase in the buildup of organic carbon in the soils. This is a very crucial soil property, especially in these areas where SOC is naturally low (Shelukindo et al., 2014 ). Just like the sites that naturally had low soil organic carbon content (Table 1 ), application of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers has also indicated to keep or maintain its soil organic carbon (Fig. 3 ). However, there was a slight improvement in soil organic carbon for the Tumbi-Tabora site (Fig. 3 ), indicating that prolonged use of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer not only could preserve but also improve the soil organic carbon. According to Ramrez-Palacios et al. (2023), the organic carbon derived from organic matter (OM) in FOMI has the potential to provide agronomic value, contributing to fertilizer use efficiency and soil environmental conservation. Thus, the FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers elsewhere have been observed in producing higher crop yields in comparison to the conventional fertilizer (Crusciol et al., 2020 ; Kaboneka et al., 2021 ). These results indicate that the application of organic FOMI fertilizers enhanced and improved the soil pH, and preserved soil organic carbon. Similar studies elsewhere showed a slight improvement in soil pH and enhanced soil organic carbon due to the use of organo-mineral fertilizers (Yan et al., 1996 ; Zhang et al., 2021 ). The enhancement of soil organic carbon is important for increasing crop yields and quality as organic carbon is key for conserving equilibrium of agricultural ecosystems (Ou et al., 2017 ) as it improves soil health, nutrients strorage and availability to plants and soil pH (Liang et al., 2024 ; Wang & Kuzyakov, 2024 ) which is a very important parameter for soil nutrients availability. Therefore, this study established that use of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer in tobacco improves soil pH and soil organic carbon, which is in agreement with study by Kumari et al. ( 2024 ) who indicated that organic fertilizer improves organic carbon in soils. Additionally, the recent research on the use of organic fertilizers in tobacco crops by Meng et al. ( 2022 ), Zhai et al. ( 2022 ), Li et al. ( 2022 ), Chen et al. ( 2025 ), and Yan et al. ( 2025 ) has demonstrated that increasing soil organic carbon contributes to better soil health. Other research has shown that organo-mineral fertilizers can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, which helps plants grow by releasing nutrients at the right time (Srinivasarao et al., 2024 ). 5.0 Conclusion and recommendations It is therefore concluded from this study that application of FOMI fertilizers contributes to the improvement in soil pH and soil organic carbon. Use of FOMI fertilizer for the first time, increased soil pH units by 0.07 units and the organic carbon content by 0.01%. Therefore, this have shown that FOMI fertilizer successfully raised soil pH and organic carbon, indicating that they may be used sustainably in tobacco-growing regions to enhance soil health and crop yields that are usually correlated with soil health. It is recommended to examine the long-term effects of FOMI fertilizer application on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. Declarations Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge the International Trading Company (ITRACOM) of Dodoma, Tanzania, for the provision of FOMI organomineral fertilizers for the research trials at Tabora, Chunya, and Ushetu and their collaboration with the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) in the research and formulation of organomineral fertilizers. Acknowledgements are further extended to the TORITA for supervision, providing researchers and technical staff to prepare this manuscript in collaboration with ITRACOM researchers. Consent on participation declaration All authors listed in the manuscript declared they were fully involved in research initiation, conducting trials, manuscript development, and approving submission, each with a specific task or in joint execution, as presented in the author contribution subsection. Author contributions Jacob Lisuma : Conceptualization, research design and formal analysis, organization of trials in three sites, data curation, funding acquisition, manuscript write-up, review, editing, reading, and approval of the final manuscript. Elimboto Muna: Research design, investigation, supervision, manuscript review, manuscript write-up, review, editing, reading, and approval of the final manuscript. Geofrey Gama, Rogath Kisoka and Elly Maerere : Methodology development, supervision of casual laborers, data collection, data entry and analysis, review of manuscript, reading and approval of the final manuscript. Joel Meliyo, Kenneth Masuki, Elias Nniyongabo, Macédoine Nsabiyumva and Catherine Senkoro : Formulation of organomineral fertilizers, monitoring trials, agronomic activities, review, editing, reading, and approving the final manuscript. Human Ethics and Consent to Participate Declarations The research involved a physical field experiment layout and monitoring casual laborers in managing trial plots in all three sites in Chunya, Tabora, and Ushetu, Tanzania. The field data were collected, analyzed, and used to develop the manuscript. The methodology of the study was well reviewed by the research committee with representatives from the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) and the International Trading Company (ITRACOM). The research committee reviewed all ethical protocols, including respect for personal skills, professions, and justice of which were adhered to. The research trials were not associated with any potential field risks. All researchers adhered to the field research integrity, accountability, and transparency. Clinical trial number: not applicable. Conflict of interest The authors declare to have no conflict of interest regarding this paper publication. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. Funding Research fund for this research was funded by grants from International Trading Company (ITRACOM) located in Dodoma, Tanzania through code 3001- DO3S. The open access funding was also funded by ITRACOM References Bouhia, Y., Hafidi, M., Ouhdouch, Y., Boukhari, M.E.M.E., Mphatso, C., Zeroual, Y. and Lyamlouli, K. (2022). Conversion of waste into organo-mineral fertilizers: current technological trends and prospects. Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology , 21 (2), pp.425-446. Chen, D., Zhou, Y., Wang, G., Dai, K., Li, J., Song, X., Xu, Y., Cui, Y. and Yang, X. (2025). 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International Journal of Plant & Soil Science , 36 (6), pp.460-473. Kumari, M., Sheoran, S., Prakash, D., Yadav, D.B., Yadav, P.K. and Jat, M.K. (2024). Long-term application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers improve the organic carbon and microbiological properties of soil under pearl millet-wheat cropping system in North-Western India. Heliyon , 10 (3). Li, H., Hu, Z., Wan, Q., Mu, B., Li, G. and Yang, Y. (2022). Integrated application of inorganic and organic fertilizer enhances soil organo-mineral associations and nutrients in tea garden soil. Agronomy , 12 (6), p.1330. Liang, D., Ning, Y., Ji, C., Zhang, Y., Wu, H., Ma, H., Zhang, J. and Wang, J. (2024). Biochar and manure co-application increases rice yield in low productive acid soil by increasing soil pH, organic carbon, and nutrient retention and availability. Plants , 13 (7), p.973. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070973 Malvezi, K.E.D., Zanao Junior, L.A., Guimaraes, E.C., Vieira, S.R., Pereira, N. (2019). Soil Chemical Attributes Variability under Tillage and No-Tillage in a long-term Experiment in Southern Brazil. Bioscience Journal 35 , 467-+. https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v35n2a2019-41793 Meng, Z.H.A.N.G., Zhen, Z.H.A.I., Taibo, L.I.A.N.G., Huaxin, D.A.I. and Yanling, Z.H.A.N.G. (2022). Characteristics of soil organic carbon constituents and their effects on chemical components in tobacco leaves from Henan tobacco-planting areas. Tobacco Science & Technology , 55 (1). https://doi.org/10.16135/j.issn1002-0861.2021.0079 Michael, P.S. (2021). Role of organic fertilizers in the management of nutrient deficiency, acidity, and toxicity in acid soils–A review. Journal of Global Agriculture and Ecology , 12 (3), pp.19-30. Moberg, J.R. (2000). Soil and Plant Analysis Manual; The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Chemistry Department: Copenhagen, Denmark, 2000. Mutai, J.C., Medvecky, B., Vanek, S.J., Gikonyo, E.W., Ojiem, J.O. and Fonte, S.J. (2025). Long-term organic matter inputs enhance soil health and reduce soil-borne pathogen pressure in maize-bean rotations in Kenya. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment , 380 , p.109402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.109402 Ou, Y., Rousseau, A.N., Wang, L. and Yan, B. (2017). Spatio-temporal patterns of soil organic carbon and pH in relation to environmental factors—A case study of the Black Soil Region of Northeastern China. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment , 245 , pp.22-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.05.003 Ramírez–Palacios, R., Acevedo-Restrepo, I., Restrepo–Sánchez, N. and Peláez, C. (2023). Development and Evaluation of a Slow-Release Occluded Fertilizer Employing Functionalized Biosolids as a Support Matrix. Available at SSRN 4403930 . Roba, T.B. (2018). Review on: The effect of mixing organic and inorganic fertilizer on productivity and soil fertility. Open Access Library Journal , 5 (06), p.1. Shelukindo, H.B., Msanya, B.M., Mwango, S.B., Semu, E., Munishi, P., and Singh, B. (2014). Characterization of some typical soils of the miombo woodland ecosystem of Kitonga Forest Reserve, Iringa, Tanzania: physico-chemical properties and classification. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A; 4 (3), March 2014 (Serial Number 35). Singh, T.B., Ali, A., Prasad, M., Yadav, A., Shrivastav, P., Goyal, D. and Dantu, P.K. (2020). Role of organic fertilizers in improving soil fertility. Contaminants in agriculture: sources, impacts and management , pp.61-77. Smith, W. B., Wilson, M., and Pagliari, P. (2020). “Organomineral fertilizers and their application to field crops,” in Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns, and Management (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd), 229–244. Srinivasarao, C., Naik, M.R., Naorem, A., Chandana, M. and Baral, K. (2024). Organo-Mineral Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture. Indian Journal of Fertilisers , 20 (4), pp.366-383. Wang, C. and Kuzyakov, Y. (2024). Soil organic matter priming: The pH effects. Global Change Biology , 30 (6), p.e17349. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17349 Wang, S., Hu, K., Feng, P., Qin, W. and Leghari, S.J. (2023). Determining the effects of organic manure substitution on soil pH in Chinese vegetable fields: A meta-analysis. Journal of Soils and Sediments , 23 (1), pp.118-130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-022-03330-9 Yan, F., Schubert, S. and Mengel, K. (1996). Soil pH increase due to biological decarboxylation of organic anions. Soil Biology and Biochemistry , 28 (4-5), pp.617-624. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(95)00180-8 Yan, S., Wang, P., Cai, X., Wang, C., Van Zwieten, L., Wang, H., Yin, Q., Liu, G. and Ren, T. (2025). Biochar-based fertilizer enhanced tobacco yield and quality by improving soil quality and soil microbial community. Environmental Technology & Innovation , 37 , p.103964. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06266-7 Yang, Y.; Wang, P.; Zeng, Z (2019). Dynamics of Bacterial Communities in a 30-Year Fertilized Paddy Field under Different Organic-Inorganic Fertilization Strategies. Agronomy, 9 (14). doi: 10.3390/agronomy9010014 Zhai, X., Zhang, L., Wu, R., Wang, M., Liu, Y., Lian, J., Munir, M.A.M., Chen, D., Liu, L. and Yang, X. (2022). Molecular composition of soil organic matter (SOM) regulate qualities of tobacco leaves. Scientific Reports , 12 (1), p.15317. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19428-6 Zhang, J., Wu, X., Shi, Y., Jin, C., Yang, Y., Wei, X., Mu, C. and Wang, J. (2021). A slight increase Anthropogenic soil management performs an in soil pH benefits soil organic carbon and nitrogen storage in a semi-arid grassland. Ecological Indicators , 130 , p.108037.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108037 Zhang, N., Chen, X., Wang, J., Dong, H., Han, X., Lu, X., Yan, J. and Zou, W. (2023). important role in increasing soil organic carbon content in northeastern China: A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment , 350 , p.108481. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-6622778\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":469545841,\"identity\":\"81d135c0-4ac9-42d8-9288-2750ae4ffbb7\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Jacob Lisuma\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABBUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYGBmYGBgseMO8DELMRqUUCrIVxRgJQC1SPBD5tzDB5Zp4EhDU4tTC3H374uIBBQkZ+RnbiZ9sfNvl88s0PGD7uYaiTb8DhsJ40Y+MZQIcZ3MjdLJ2TkGbZxsZmwDjjGYMEIy4tDTls0jwgLRK5G4BaDhsA/WLAzHOAQYIZl/f730C0yM/I3fzbAqyF/QNYC66gY5wBtYXhRu42aQawFh6ILTw4tTwD+sUA6LAzb7dZ9qSlAbXkFByccUBCcgYOLYb9ycAQq7Cxl2/P3Xzjh42NgXzz8Y0PPhyw4ccVYoZgcQM00QP4YlIep8woGAWjYBSMAhgAAEBcR9T7CAx4AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Jacob\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Lisuma\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545842,\"identity\":\"ed4ddffd-3c6c-41bb-8dba-52d272e86cb6\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Elimboto Muna\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Elimboto\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Muna\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545843,\"identity\":\"a286a993-5a54-4ecd-b9c8-8d7a6194daf8\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Geofrey Gama\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Geofrey\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Gama\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545844,\"identity\":\"2fe92ba0-2d58-406e-a26c-d49bc3adabe1\",\"order_by\":3,\"name\":\"Rogath Kisoka\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Rogath\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Kisoka\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545845,\"identity\":\"98b241f4-bcbd-4ceb-810b-0a49720cbca0\",\"order_by\":4,\"name\":\"Elly Maerere\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Elly\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Maerere\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545846,\"identity\":\"7355a5c4-25b8-4432-82b0-08d3b184ba09\",\"order_by\":5,\"name\":\"Joel Meliyo\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"International Trading Company (ITRACOM)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Joel\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Meliyo\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545847,\"identity\":\"4bea9979-e797-4f60-9273-a29eb4a337ee\",\"order_by\":6,\"name\":\"Kenneth Masuki\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"International Trading Company (ITRACOM)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Kenneth\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Masuki\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545848,\"identity\":\"5901d2a1-9948-4455-8a0a-878e3ea598ff\",\"order_by\":7,\"name\":\"Elias Niyongabo\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"International Trading Company (ITRACOM)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Elias\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Niyongabo\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545849,\"identity\":\"b25e2866-3605-467f-9cfc-69a89f5be466\",\"order_by\":8,\"name\":\"Macédoine Nsabiyumva\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"International Trading Company (ITRACOM)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Macédoine\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Nsabiyumva\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":469545850,\"identity\":\"52541c4f-7c19-47f8-8e3f-21109da8d7f2\",\"order_by\":9,\"name\":\"Catherine Senkoro\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"International Trading Company (ITRACOM)\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Catherine\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Senkoro\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2025-05-08 17:38:15\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":84468388,\"identity\":\"60f22890-10ae-4fb2-9ece-f6fa68913c9b\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-06-12 10:06:47\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"Figure 1\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":64310,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eEffect of organic FOMI fertilizers on soil pH across the sites\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"1.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6622778/v1/049c814403f835c97d249aeb.png\"},{\"id\":84470001,\"identity\":\"514084ae-0037-4c7f-bbdc-4980e55e3d3d\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-06-12 10:22:47\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":2,\"title\":\"Figure 2\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":14283,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eImpact of organomineral FOMI fertilizers on soil acidity and its pH change\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"2.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6622778/v1/e6ce438c96e4d61ea11ced4c.png\"},{\"id\":84468389,\"identity\":\"4f6e2a9c-527a-447e-935c-6c73c2e756c4\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-06-12 10:06:47\",\"extension\":\"png\",\"order_by\":3,\"title\":\"Figure 3\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"figure\",\"size\":17147,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eImpact of organic FOMI fertilizers in preserving/improving soil organic carbon\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"3.png\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6622778/v1/cc6f68df542345c4c7dc49f3.png\"},{\"id\":89486810,\"identity\":\"0c701d75-504b-4d36-989c-c5b8f677345f\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-08-20 13:02:22\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":0,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":906126,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"manuscript.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6622778/v1/99367e28-48ba-4574-800b-0c0923114635.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Deciphering the Impact of FOMI Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on pH and Organic Carbon of the Soils under Tobacco Production in Tanzania\",\"fulltext\":[{\"header\":\"1.0 Introduction\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSoil is the key to agriculture; it has a significant connection to the survival of human beings and hence accounts for a useful resource for the development of any nation when soil is tillaged for crop production (Malvezi et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR16\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2019\\u003c/span\\u003e). Inorganic fertilization is an important measure in agricultural production, as it improves soil nutrients for increased crop yield (Chen et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR3\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e; Ibrahim et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR7\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2015\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, prolonged use of inorganic fertilizers can lead to nutrient imbalance, reduce organic matter, and cause more serious issues in the soil environment's ecology (Hartmann et al. \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR6\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e; Yang et al. \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR32\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2019\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTanzania's tobacco sector has been importing tobacco inorganic fertilizer for over seven decades. Researchers have found that long-term use of inorganic fertilizer alone degrades soil organic matter, makes the soil more acidic, and pollutes the environment by causing heavy metals to build up, which lowers the quality and health of the soil (Roba, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR23\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2018\\u003c/span\\u003e; Jiang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR8\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2006\\u003c/span\\u003e; Dutta et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR5\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e; Jote, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR10\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2023\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, researchers have found that a combination of inorganic and organic fertilizers can enhance soil health (Kumar et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR12\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e). Recently, using organo-mineral fertilizers has become popular as a way for the fertilizer industry to combine organic and inorganic fertilizers and rock resources to improve soil health and fertility. Researchers have also linked it to improved mineral nutrient use efficiency (Smith et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR26\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e; Bouhia et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR1\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe concept of organic culture has emerged as a result of the promotion of organic fertilizers to counteract the negative effects of chemical fertilizers (Singh et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR25\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e; Michael, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR18\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2021\\u003c/span\\u003e). Organic fertilizers include compost, farmyard manure, bacterial biofertilizer, or plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Returning organic amendments to the field can alleviate soil problems, improve the soil components by increasing soil organic matter, and improve soil fertility to a certain extent. This advantage could be due to the fact that organic materials in the organomineral fertilizers themselves contain a significant amount of organic matter and functional microorganisms, which can effectively transform the nutrients in the soil. However, it's important to note that many of these microorganisms may not be cultivable. Organomineral fertilizers improve soil physical properties, reduce soil acidity, improve soil bulk density, increase water infiltration rate, increase soil porosity and aeration, reduce nutrient leaching, and increase soil organic carbon. By boosting the amount of organic carbon, the soil's humus content rises, and it alters the biological characteristics of the soil, fostering the growth of beneficial macro- and microorganisms. This, in turn, improves soil fertility and boosts crop productivity, all while utilizing eco-friendly and economical methods (Singh et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR25\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eIn Tanzania, the Fertilisants Organo Min\\u0026eacute;raux (FOMI), the organomineral fertilizers produced by the International Trading Company (ITRACOM) Fertilizers Ltd was tested on tobacco field experiments to evaluate the effects of the fertilizers on soil pH and SOC in the cropping season 2023/24. The field experiment was carried out to address the need to replenish the soil health status under tobacco crop cultivation, which has progressively resulted in increased soil acidity, due to necessitated prolonged use of higher rates of inorganic NPK fertilizer as a critical requirement in the Tanzanian tobacco sector. ITRACOM Fertilizers Ltd manufactured basal fertilizers FOMI GREEN (N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e14\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003e) and FOMI SUPA (N\\u003csub\\u003e5\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e9\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e12\\u003c/sub\\u003e) NPK and top-dressing fertilizers FOMI NENEPESHA (N\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e22\\u003c/sub\\u003e) and FOMI CANS (N\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e1\\u003c/sub\\u003e) respectively, for tobacco crops and researched the application rates suiting the Tanzania fertilizer specifications in collaboration with the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA). The tobacco research trials were carried out in three geographic areas of Tumbi, at Tabora; Mtanila at Chunya; and Ushetu at Shinyanga, representing tobacco zonation in Tanzania. All these areas are under the miombo woodland zone. Miombo woodland soils in Tanzania are generally nutrient-poor, often derived from acid crystalline bedrock, and exhibit varying textures and pH levels. The soils can range from sandy to different loams, with pH typically between 5.1 and 5.9. Organic carbon and cation exchange capacity (CEC) also vary, influencing soil fertility and nutrient availability (Shelukindo et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR24\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e). A technology that improved both soil pH and SOC and general soil health, such as organomineral fertilizers is very important for sustainable farming in these naturally poor soils. However, limited research is available on the precise quantification of the magnitude of change attributed to the use of OMF in tobacco farming in Tanzania.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAdditionally, the tobacco sector in Tanzania is targeting increasing tobacco leaf yields to 200,000 metric tons by the crop season 2025/26. The foreseen increase of the tobacco leaf yields compels for the availability and use of high-quality organic fertilizers. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the influence of use of FOMI organomineral fertilizers on soil pH and soil organic matter and its potential in enhancing soil health for the sustainability of tobacco production.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"2.0 Materials and Methodology\",\"content\":\"\\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec3\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.1. Description of the experimental sites\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe selected soil characteristics (nutrients) of the experimental sites are presented on Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e. During the 2024\\u0026ndash;25 cropping season, field experiments were carried out at the Tumbi site, Tabora region, Ushetu in Shinyanga and Mtanila, in Chunya-Mbeya. Tumbi site located at 5\\u0026deg;3'41.96772\\\" S, 32\\u0026deg;40'13.07892\\\" E; 1168 m a.s.l in Tabora District had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 29\\u0026deg;C and 1050 mm, respectively; Ushetu, located at 4\\u0026deg;7'15.76488\\\" S, 32\\u0026deg;16'7.61664\\\" E, 1,153 m a.s.l in Shinyanga region had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 25\\u0026deg;C and 890 mm, respectively. Mtanila located at 7\\u0026deg;54'26.02044\\\" S, 33\\u0026deg;19'21.8226\\\" E, 1,368 m a.s.l. in Chunya Mbeya region had mean atmospheric temperature and rainfall of 24\\u0026deg;C and 750 mm, respectively. Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e lists the specific soil characteristics of the experimental location. The Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania's (TORITA) K326 tobacco seed variety was utilized.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab1\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 1\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSome soil physical-chemical characteristics before the experiment\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\" colnum=\\\"5\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\" colnum=\\\"6\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eS/No\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eParameter\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUnit\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUshetu-Shinyanga\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTumbi-Tabora\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eMtanila- Chunya\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOC\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e%\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.18\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.18\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.21\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003epH (water)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e-\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5.17\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5.11\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5.09\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTotal N\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e%\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.02\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.02\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.02\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eAvail P\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003emg kg\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e7.99\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6.57\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5.00\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eExch K\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ecmol\\u003csup\\u003e+\\u003c/sup\\u003ekg\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.40\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.45\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.42\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eExch Ca\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003ecmol\\u003csup\\u003e+\\u003c/sup\\u003ekg\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.40\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.42\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0.59\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e7\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTexture class\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e-\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eLoamy sand\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c5\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eLoamy sand\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c6\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSandy loam\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eWe sowed tobacco seed (K326) from TORITA in a 1.5 m wide and 20 m deep seedbed. The seedlings were raised in a seedbed of 1.5 x 20 m and fertilized with 5 kg of the NPK used for basal application as per the treatments given below. Eight weeks after sowing, the seedlings were transplanted to the experimental plots at a spacing of 1.2 m between ridges and 0.50 m between plants, making a total of 24 plants per plot of size 4.8 m x 3 m, equivalent to population of 16,666 plants/ha. The tests were set up in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments, with 4 replications, in the 3 sites. The standard basal fertilizer composed of NPK (10:18:24)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;0.5MgO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;3CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;7S\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;0.012B and its topdressing fertilizer composed of CAN 27%N\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;1.7MgO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;3CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;3S. The FOMI SUPA basal fertilizer composed of NPK (5:9:12)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;3CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;1MgO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;4S\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;0.01B and its topdressing FOMI CANS fertilizer composed of NPK 19:0:1)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;3CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;2Mg0\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;4S. The FOMI GREEN basal fertilizer composed of NPK (10:14:11)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;7CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;1MgO and its topdressing FOMI NENEPESHA composed of NPK (11:0:22)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;4CaO\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;2MgO. Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e shows the rates and times of application for both basal and topdressing fertilizers in each treatment.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u003ctable float=\\\"Yes\\\" id=\\\"Tab2\\\" border=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 2\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eExperimental treatments across the sites\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/caption\\u003e \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\" colnum=\\\"1\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\" colnum=\\\"2\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\" colnum=\\\"3\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv align=\\\"left\\\" class=\\\"colspec\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\" colnum=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cthead\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eNo.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBasal and Topdressing Fertilizers\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eBasal rate at 7 DAT\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTopdressing rate at 21 DAT\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/th\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/thead\\u003e \\u003ctbody\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eUNFERTILIZED\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e0 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e2.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eSTANDARD (ST)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;CAN (CN)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e500 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e24\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e CAN27%N\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e3.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI SUPA (FS)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI CANS (FC)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e5\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e9\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e12\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e1\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e4.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI SUPA (FS)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI CANS (FC)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e800 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e5\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e9\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e12\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e83 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e1\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e5.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI SUPA (FS)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI CANS (FC)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e600 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e5\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e9\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e12\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e67 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e1\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e6.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI GREEN (FG)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI NENEPESHA (FN)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e650 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e14\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e233 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e22\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e7.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI GREEN (FG)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI NENEPESHA (FN)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e517 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e14\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e183 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e22\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c1\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e8.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c2\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eFOMI GREEN (FG)\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;FOMI NENEPESHA (FN)\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c3\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e383 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e14\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" colname=\\\"c4\\\"\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e N\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e22\\u003c/sub\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/td\\u003e \\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tbody\\u003e \\u003c/colgroup\\u003e \\u003ctfoot\\u003e \\u003ctr\\u003e\\u003ctd colspan=\\\"4\\\"\\u003eKey: DAT\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;Days after transplanting tobacco seedlings\\u003c/td\\u003e\\u003c/tr\\u003e \\u003c/tfoot\\u003e \\u003c/table\\u003e\\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThroughout the experiments, we kept the experimental plots free of weeds and applied pesticides only after counting the number of pests present. We used Confidor at the rate of 10g 10L\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of water as a pesticide across all sites. Tobacco plants were topped, followed by the application of Yamaotea Super 305 EC at the rate of 8 mls 10 L\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of water as a suckercide.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec4\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.3. Soil Samples Analysis Prior to the Experiment\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eA zigzag method for soil sampling to a depth of 0\\u0026ndash;30 cm using soil auger was adopted across the sites to make a composite sample at each site before the trial and at each plot to make a composite sample after the trial. The soil composite samples were used to determine the soil pH using a soil water ratio of 1:2.5, soil organic carbon (SOC) by the Walkley Black method, total N by the Kjedahl method, available P by the Bray-1 method, exchangeable Ca, and K by atomic adsorption spectrophotometer (Moberg \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR19\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2000\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e \\u003cdiv id=\\\"Sec5\\\" class=\\\"Section2\\\"\\u003e \\u003ch2\\u003e2.4. Analyses of Statistics\\u003c/h2\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThe data collected on efficacy of fertilizer rates by and across sites were analysed using a two factors analysis of variance ANOVA. The analysis covered the different rates of two basal FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers, as well as their top-dressed counterparts. The STATISTICA 8th Edition, StatSoft, Inc., Tulsa, OK, USA, was used. The significant means were compared using Fisher\\u0026rsquo;s least significant difference at p\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.05.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003c/div\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"3.0 Results\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eTable \\u003cspan class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e shows the results of the impact of FOMI fertilizer application on soil pH, and soil organic carbon. The Ushetu-Shinyanga site had a significant improvement in soil pH of 5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 than before the experiment (soil pH of 5.17), followed by the Mtanila-Chunya site, which had an improved soil pH of 5.16\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 than before the experiment (5.09), and the Tumbi-Tabora site, which had an improved soil pH of 5.14\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 than soil pH of 5.11 before the experiment. The Mtanila-Chunya site had a significantly (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.001\\u003c/em\\u003e) higher content of organic soil carbon of 0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% in similar content than before the experiment, followed by Tumbi-Tabora and Ushetu-Shinyanga, which had 0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% and 0.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00%, respectively. The soil organic carbon in the Tumbi, Tabora site has improved compared to its level before the experiment, which was 0.18%, while at the Ushetu-Shinyanga site, there was no change in soil organic carbon.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cdiv class=\\\"gridtable\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ctable id=\\\"Tab3\\\" border=\\\"1\\\" class=\\\"fr-table-selection-hover\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003ccaption language=\\\"En\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionNumber\\\"\\u003eTable 3\\u003c/div\\u003e\\n \\u003cdiv class=\\\"CaptionContent\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eEffect of application of FOMI fertilizers on soil pH, and soil organic carbon\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/div\\u003e\\n \\u003c/caption\\u003e\\n \\u003ccolgroup cols=\\\"4\\\"\\u003e\\u003c/colgroup\\u003e\\n \\u003cthead\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eSites\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/th\\u003e\\n \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eSoil pH\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/th\\u003e\\n \\u003cth align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eSoil OC (%)\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/th\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003c/thead\\u003e\\n \\u003ctbody\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eMtanila-Chunya\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.16\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eTumbi-Tabora\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.14\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 c\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eUshetu-Shinyanga\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 c\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eTreatments\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT1 - Unfertilized\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.12\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT2\\u0026ndash;500 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e ST\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e CN\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.12\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT3\\u0026ndash;1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FS\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FC\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT4\\u0026ndash;800 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FS\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;83 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FC\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.20\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT5\\u0026ndash;600 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FS\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;67 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FC\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.17\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 c\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT6\\u0026ndash;650 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FG\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;233 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FN\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.20\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 b\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT7\\u0026ndash;517 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FG\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;183 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FN\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 c\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eT8\\u0026ndash;383 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FG\\u0026thinsp;+\\u0026thinsp;133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FN\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e5.17\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 a\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00 c\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e2-WAY ANOVA F-statistics\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eSite (S)\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e19***\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e109.43***\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eTreatment (T)\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e16***\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e27.88***\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 52.9289%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003eS x T\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.0154%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e3***\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd align=\\\"left\\\" style=\\\"width: 18.7835%;\\\"\\u003e\\n \\u003cp\\u003e1.22ns\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n \\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tbody\\u003e\\n \\u003ctfoot\\u003e\\n \\u003ctr\\u003e\\n \\u003ctd colspan=\\\"3\\\" style=\\\"width: 91.5432%;\\\"\\u003eKey: Means in the same category of evaluated interface sharing similar letter(s) do not differ significantly based on their respective Standard error (SE) at a 5% error rate. Values presented are means\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;SE \\u003csub\\u003ex̅\\u003c/sub\\u003e (Standard error of means); *** means significant at \\u003cem\\u003eP\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026lt;\\u0026thinsp;0.001\\u003c/td\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tr\\u003e\\n \\u003c/tfoot\\u003e\\n \\u003c/table\\u003e\\n\\u003c/div\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe treatments that had the lowest pH levels in the soil were the absolute control (T1) and the standard treatment (T2), with pH levels of 5.12\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 and 5.12\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01, respectively. The FOMI fertilizer treatments (T3-T8) did not differ significantly in soil pH levels ranging from 5.17\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 to 5.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.01 (Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). Soil organic carbon results showed the significantly lowest soil organic carbon recorded in absolute treatment (T1) and the standard treatment (T2), with 0.18\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% respectively. The treatment (T3) basal application using FOMI SUPA (1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e) and top-dressed with FOMI CANS (133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e) had significantly (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.001\\u003c/em\\u003e) higher soil organic carbon, reaching 0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00%, followed by treatment (T4) fertilized with 800 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of basal FOMI SUPA and FOMI CANS as top-dressing with 83 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and treatment (T6) fertilized with 650 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of basal FOMI GREEN and top-dressed with FOMI NENEPESHA with 233 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e, which had soil organic content of 0.20\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00%, respectively. Treatments (T5) fertilized with the same kind of fertilizer as T3 and T4 but with 600 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and 67 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e for basal and top-dressing fertilizer, and treatments T7 and T8 fertilized with similar fertilizers as T6 but with 517 and 383 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e for basal fertilizer, and top-dressed with 183 and 133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e as top-dressing, had 0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% of soil organic carbon.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"4.0 Discussion\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThe application of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizer had the impact of reducing soil acidity. Before applying FOMI fertilizers, the soil pH for the Ushetu-Shinyanga site was 5.17\\u0026plusmn; (Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e); after the trial, it was 5.18\\u0026plusmn;, indicating a reduction in soil acidity by 0.01 unit for two application seasons. The soil pH for Tumbi-Tabora following the application of organic FOMI fertilizers reduced the pH by 0.03 units, while the soil pH for the Mtanila-Chunya site reduced by 0.07 units. This indicates that the use of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers results in a favourable response by reduction the soil pH, as shown in Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e and Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e. The more acidic the soils, the more their pH changes as a result of using organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e). For the case of treatment results, it indicated that the standard fertilizer N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e24\\u003c/sub\\u003e (T2) did not improve the soil pH and did not differ in its results from the absolute treatment (T1), which did not receive any fertilizer. However, all the organic FOMI SUPA (N\\u003csub\\u003e5\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e9\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e12\\u003c/sub\\u003e), FOMI CANS (N\\u003csub\\u003e18\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e1\\u003c/sub\\u003e), FOMI GREEN (N\\u003csub\\u003e10\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e14\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003e), and FOMI NENEPESHA (N\\u003csub\\u003e11\\u003c/sub\\u003eP\\u003csub\\u003e0\\u003c/sub\\u003eK\\u003csub\\u003e22\\u003c/sub\\u003e) fertilizers (T3-T8) increased soil pH significantly (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.001\\u003c/em\\u003e) compared to the standard fertilizer (T2). The improvement of soil pH could be attributed to the calcium and magnesium oxides content combined in FOMI fertilizers. Therefore, the long application of organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers could alleviate the soil acidity in tobacco-growing areas in the future. Other studies also observed a similar trend for a long-term application of organic fertilizer for improving soil acidity (Wang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR29\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2023\\u003c/span\\u003e; Zhang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR36\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2023\\u003c/span\\u003e; Liang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e; \\u0026amp; Mutai et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR20\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2025\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eApplication of FOMI fertilizer in the Mtanila-Chunya site resulted in a significantly high content of soil organic carbon of 0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% (Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). Tumbi-Tabora site was the next to have a slight increase in soil organic carbon by 0.01% to 0.19\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00%. The soil organic carbon for Ushetu-Shinyanga site, was not observed acidic in comparison to Mtanila-Chunya and Tumbi-Tabora (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig2\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e2\\u003c/span\\u003e). The inherent levels of soil organic carbon could have been attributed to the improvement of soil organic carbon. The standard treatment (T2) applied with standard NPK (10:18:24) at the rate of 500 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and top-dressed with CAN 27%N (133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e), did not improve the soil organic carbon, similar to the unfertilized treatment (T1). The application of basal higher rates of 1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FOMI SUPA and top-dressing with 133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e FOMI CANS resulted in significantly to cause an increase of soil organic carbon, probably due to the nature of the soil that was not too (\\u003cem\\u003ep\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.001\\u003c/em\\u003e) improve the soil organic carbon (0.21\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00%). The soil organic carbon level dropped to 0.20\\u0026thinsp;\\u0026plusmn;\\u0026thinsp;0.00% with a basal application rate of 800 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and a top-dressing rate of 83 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e. This did not differ significantly from the treatment that used 650 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of FOMI GREEN for the base and 233 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e of FOMI NENEPESHA for the top-dressing. These results show that the organo-mineral FOMI fertilizers enhance soil organic carbon more than the standard fertilizer.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eOrgano-mineral fertilizers are known to be beneficial for the recycling and preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in soils. The FOMI fertilizers are composed of organic functional groups enriched with oxidized and aliphatic carbon (Jones \\u0026amp; Singh, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR9\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e). These different C species of mineral surfaces enhance the chemical composition of OC bound in surfaces and become stable in organo-mineral. Through this mechanism, FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers become beneficial for the recycling and preservation of organic carbon in soils. Thus, the use of higher rates of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer (1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e\\u0026minus;\\u0026thinsp;1\\u003c/sup\\u003e) indicated increase in the buildup of organic carbon in the soils. This is a very crucial soil property, especially in these areas where SOC is naturally low (Shelukindo et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR24\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2014\\u003c/span\\u003e). Just like the sites that naturally had low soil organic carbon content (Table\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Tab1\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e1\\u003c/span\\u003e), application of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers has also indicated to keep or maintain its soil organic carbon (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e). However, there was a slight improvement in soil organic carbon for the Tumbi-Tabora site (Fig.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan refid=\\\"Fig3\\\" class=\\\"InternalRef\\\"\\u003e3\\u003c/span\\u003e), indicating that prolonged use of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer not only could preserve but also improve the soil organic carbon. According to Ramrez-Palacios et al. (2023), the organic carbon derived from organic matter (OM) in FOMI has the potential to provide agronomic value, contributing to fertilizer use efficiency and soil environmental conservation. Thus, the FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers elsewhere have been observed in producing higher crop yields in comparison to the conventional fertilizer (Crusciol et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR4\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2020\\u003c/span\\u003e; Kaboneka et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR11\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2021\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003e \\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eThese results indicate that the application of organic FOMI fertilizers enhanced and improved the soil pH, and preserved soil organic carbon. Similar studies elsewhere showed a slight improvement in soil pH and enhanced soil organic carbon due to the use of organo-mineral fertilizers (Yan et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR30\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e1996\\u003c/span\\u003e; Zhang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR34\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2021\\u003c/span\\u003e). The enhancement of soil organic carbon is important for increasing crop yields and quality as organic carbon is key for conserving equilibrium of agricultural ecosystems (Ou et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR21\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2017\\u003c/span\\u003e) as it improves soil health, nutrients strorage and availability to plants and soil pH (Liang et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR15\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e; Wang \\u0026amp; Kuzyakov, \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR28\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e) which is a very important parameter for soil nutrients availability.\\u003c/p\\u003e \\u003cp\\u003eTherefore, this study established that use of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizer in tobacco improves soil pH and soil organic carbon, which is in agreement with study by Kumari et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR13\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e) who indicated that organic fertilizer improves organic carbon in soils. Additionally, the recent research on the use of organic fertilizers in tobacco crops by Meng et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR17\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e), Zhai et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR33\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e), Li et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR14\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2022\\u003c/span\\u003e), Chen et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR2\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2025\\u003c/span\\u003e), and Yan et al. (\\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR31\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2025\\u003c/span\\u003e) has demonstrated that increasing soil organic carbon contributes to better soil health. Other research has shown that organo-mineral fertilizers can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, which helps plants grow by releasing nutrients at the right time (Srinivasarao et al., \\u003cspan citationid=\\\"CR27\\\" class=\\\"CitationRef\\\"\\u003e2024\\u003c/span\\u003e).\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"5.0 Conclusion and recommendations\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eIt is therefore concluded from this study that application of FOMI fertilizers contributes to the improvement in soil pH and soil organic carbon. Use of FOMI fertilizer for the first time, increased soil pH units by 0.07 units and the organic carbon content by 0.01%. Therefore, this have shown that FOMI fertilizer successfully raised soil pH and organic carbon, indicating that they may be used sustainably in tobacco-growing regions to enhance soil health and crop yields that are usually correlated with soil health. It is recommended to examine the long-term effects of FOMI fertilizer application on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil.\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"Declarations\",\"content\":\"\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAcknowledgements\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe authors acknowledge the International Trading Company (ITRACOM) of Dodoma, Tanzania, for the provision of FOMI organomineral fertilizers for the research trials at Tabora, Chunya, and Ushetu and their collaboration with the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) in the research and formulation of organomineral fertilizers. Acknowledgements are further extended to the TORITA for supervision, providing researchers and technical staff to prepare this manuscript in collaboration with ITRACOM researchers.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eConsent on participation declaration\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAll authors listed in the manuscript declared they were fully involved in research initiation, conducting trials, manuscript development, and approving submission, each with a specific task or in joint execution, as presented in the author contribution subsection.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAuthor contributions\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eJacob Lisuma\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Conceptualization, research design and formal analysis, organization of trials in three sites, data curation, funding acquisition, manuscript write-up, review, editing, reading, and approval of the final manuscript.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eElimboto Muna:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eResearch design, investigation, supervision, manuscript review, manuscript write-up, review, editing, reading, and approval of the final manuscript.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGeofrey Gama, Rogath Kisoka and Elly Maerere\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eMethodology development, supervision of casual laborers, data collection, data entry and analysis, review of manuscript, reading and approval of the final manuscript.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eJoel Meliyo, Kenneth Masuki, Elias Nniyongabo, Mac\\u0026eacute;doine Nsabiyumva and Catherine Senkoro\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eFormulation of organomineral fertilizers, monitoring trials, agronomic activities, review, editing, reading, and approving the final manuscript.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHuman Ethics and Consent to Participate Declarations \\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe research involved a physical field experiment layout and monitoring casual laborers in managing trial plots in all three sites in Chunya, Tabora, and Ushetu, Tanzania. The field data were collected, analyzed, and used to develop the manuscript. The methodology of the study was well reviewed by the research committee with representatives from the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) and the International Trading Company (ITRACOM). The research committee reviewed all ethical protocols, including respect for personal skills, professions, and justice of which were adhered to. The research trials were not associated with any potential field risks. All researchers adhered to the field research integrity, accountability, and transparency.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eClinical trial number:\\u003c/strong\\u003e not applicable.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eConflict of interest\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe authors declare to have no conflict of interest regarding this paper publication. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFunding\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\n\\u003cp\\u003eResearch fund for this research was funded by grants from International Trading Company (ITRACOM) located in Dodoma, Tanzania through code 3001- DO3S. The open access funding was also funded by ITRACOM\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\"},{\"header\":\"References\",\"content\":\"\\u003col\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eBouhia, Y., Hafidi, M., Ouhdouch, Y., Boukhari, M.E.M.E., Mphatso, C., Zeroual, Y. and Lyamlouli, K. (2022). Conversion of waste into organo-mineral fertilizers: current technological trends and prospects. \\u003cem\\u003eReviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e21\\u003c/em\\u003e(2), pp.425-446.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eChen, D., Zhou, Y., Wang, G., Dai, K., Li, J., Song, X., Xu, Y., Cui, Y. and Yang, X. (2025). Biochar-based organic fertilizer application promotes the alleviation of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) continuous cropping obstacles by improving soil chemical properties and microbial community structure. \\u003cem\\u003eBMC Plant Biology\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e25\\u003c/em\\u003e(1), p.271. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06266-7\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003cli\\u003eChen, X.P.; Cui, Z.L.; Fan, M.S.; Vitousek, P.; Zhao, M.; Ma, W.Q.; Wang, Z.L.; Zhang, W.J.; Yan, X.Y.; Yang, J.C.; Deng, X.P.; Gao, Q.; Zhang, Q.; Guo, S.W; Ren, J.; Li, S.Q; Ye, Y.L.; Wang, Z.H.; Huang, J.L.; Tang, Q.Y.; Sun, Y.X.; Peng, X.L.; Zhang, J.W.; He, M.R; Zhu, Y.J.; Xue, J.Q.; Wang, G.L; Wu, L.; An, N.; Wu, L.Q; Ma, L.; Zhang, W.F.; Zhang, F.S. (2014). 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(2023). important role in increasing soil organic carbon content in northeastern China: A meta-analysis. \\u003cem\\u003eAgriculture, Ecosystems \\u0026amp; Environment\\u003c/em\\u003e, \\u003cem\\u003e350\\u003c/em\\u003e, p.108481.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\n\\u003c/ol\\u003e\"}],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":true,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":true,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":false,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":false,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"researchsquare\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"/submission\",\"title\":\"Research Square\",\"twitterHandle\":\"researchsquare\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":false,\"editorialSystem\":\"\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"\",\"inReviewEnabled\":false,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"soil pH, organic carbon, soil health, sustainable agriculture, tobacco, FOMI fertilizers\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eA study was conducted in selected tobacco producing areas in Tanzania to evaluate the impact of FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers on soil pH and soil organic carbon levels after harvesting the tobacco crop K326 from the three sites of Tumbi-Tabora, Mtanila-Chunya and Ushetu-Shinyanga in 2023/24 cropping season. The experiment involved eight treatments: an unfertilized control; standard NPK fertilizers at 500 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and CAN at 133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e; FOMI SUPA applied at 1000, 800, and 600 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 7, combined with FOMI CANS at 133, 83, and 67 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 21; and FOMI GREEN at 650, 517, and 383 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 7, combined with FOMI NENEPESHA at 233, 183, and 133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 21. Results showed that all FOMI fertilizers improved soil pH at all application rates without significant differences between them. The soil organic carbon content improved significantly (\\u003cem\\u003ep =0.001\\u003c/em\\u003e) to 0.21 ± 0.00% from the initial level to the depth of 20 cm when FOMI SUPA (T3) was applied at 1000 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 7 and FOMI CANS at 133 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e on day 21. Other treatments, including FOMI SUPA (T4) at 800 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e and FOMI GREEN (T6) at 650 kg ha\\u003csup\\u003e-1\\u003c/sup\\u003e, improved organic carbon to 0.20 ± 0.00%, without significant differences. \\u0026nbsp;Conclusively, FOMI fertilizers are effective in improving soil pH and organic carbon, highlighting their potential for sustainable use in tobacco cultivation, enhancing soil health.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Deciphering the Impact of FOMI Organo-Mineral Fertilizers on pH and Organic Carbon of the Soils under Tobacco Production in Tanzania\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2025-06-12 10:06:42\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6622778/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"researchsquare\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":true,\"externalIdentity\":\"\",\"sideBox\":\"\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"/submission\",\"title\":\"Research Square\",\"twitterHandle\":\"researchsquare\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":false,\"editorialSystem\":\"\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"\",\"inReviewEnabled\":false,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"031cca11-5564-406a-a9a1-e646a301fbe6\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"June 12th, 2025\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"posted\",\"subjectAreas\":[],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2025-08-20T12:54:08+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2025-06-12 10:06:42\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-6622778\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-6622778\",\"identity\":\"rs-6622778\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}