Dr Mawazo J Shitindi

Mawazo J. Shitindi (PhD) is a soil scientist currently working as a lecturer in the Department of Soil and Geological Sciences at Sokoine University of Agriculture, a Public University based in Morogoro region-Tanzania. He was born in 1974 in Mbozi District, Songwe region (previously part of Mbeya region) in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. He graduated his PhD in Integrative Biosciences majoring in Soil and Plant Sciences from Tuskegee University of Alabama USA in the year 2016, MSc. Soil Science and Land Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture in November 2011 and BSc. Agronomy from Sokoine University of Agriculture in November 2005. Apart from teaching, research and consultancy works; he likes farming as well as working with and for farmers. Additional information about Dr. Shitindi is as summarized below:

Professional experience for the last 14-years

2017 to date	Lecturer in Soil Science at Sokoine University of Agriculture –Tanzania.
2012 – 2017	Assistant Lecturer in Soil Science at Sokoine University of Agriculture.
2010 – 2012	Tutorial Assistant in Soil Science at Sokoine University of Agriculture.
2005 – 2010	Agricultural officer (District crops officer) – Mbozi District Council, Mbozi Tanzania.

Teaching and supervision of student research projects

• Currently teaching Fundamentals of soil science, Agricultural chemistry, Soil Fertility and Land Productivity and Plant Nutrition Courses for undergraduate students and Advanced Plant Nutrition for post graduate (MSc. and PhD) students.
• He also taught Introductory Soil science and Soil microbiology at Tuskegee University of Agriculture in Alabama USA
• He has supervised more than ten undergraduate students, two MSc. students and currently co-supervising two PhD students.

Areas of research interests

• Intergrated Soil Fertility and Nutrient management
• Agricultural waste utilization and nutrient cycling in agricultural systems
• Assay of soil enzyme activities and its applications as indicators for soil quality change
• Rehadilitation of degraded soils
• Enhancing productivity and recilience of cereal – legume cropping systems in semi arid regions

Involvement in research projects

• Principal investigator for “Enhancing productivity and resilience of cereal – legume cropping systems through monitoring weather variability, water and nutrient use efficiency in Kongwa and Kiteto Districts – Tanzania” a subproject under the USAID funded Africa RISING ESA project. Participating as Principal investigator,

• Project team member for “Unlocking rock phosphate potential through development and production of innovative organic P fertilizer (bio-rock P)”. A project funded by the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)

• As worked as Principal Investigator for “Evaluation of leguminous biomass composted with Tanzanian Phosphate Rocks as source of N and P for maize in the Northern Zone of Tanzania” PhD research project co-funded by USAID through iAGRI project based at Ohio State University and Norman Borlaug Leadership Enhancement in Agriculture (Borlaug LEAP) project based at the University of California DAVIS in the USA.

 

Consultancy:

• Evaluation of fertility status of soils in Ruaha Mbuyuni farm project for onion and beans production. Client: Optland Enterprises LTD, P.O. Box 14693, Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

International experience:

Dr. Shitindi has never been employed in any international organisation, but previously collaborated with researchers from USA and currently collaborating with researchers from Switzerland, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria and South Sudan at different capacities including research activities and supervision of graduate students.

Publications and submissions under review:

Shitindi, M., Kpomblekou-A, K., McElhenney, W., Ankumah, R., Semoka, J., Bekunda, M., & Bonsi, C. (2019). Maize Response to Leguminous Biomass Composted with Phosphate Rocks in the Northern Zone of Tanzania. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 35(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.9734/jeai/2019/v35i430209

Shitindi, M. J. and Mrema, J. P. (2019) Composting coffee pulp with Minjingu phosphate rock improves phosphorus availability for tomato uptake. Accepted for publication in the African Jounal of Agricultural Research. 14 (25), pp. 1051-1057. http://www.academicjournals.org/AJAR

 

1. A. Hatibu, M. J. Shitindi and E. M. M. Marwa (2018). Assessment of phosphorous release of bat guano with respect to their use as organic fertilizers in crop production. Under review – Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science.

Dr. Shitindi’s physical address and contacts for further communication are as listed below:             Department of Soil and Geological Science, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P. O. Box 3008, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro – Tanzania. Cell: +255 764 075040 / +255 689 669866 E-mail: shitindi@sua.ac.tz / shitindimj@yahoo.com Skype: mawazo.shitindi Twitter: shitindimj1