Staff Profile

/Prof Johnson Masaka
Prof Johnson Masaka

Acting Dean

Land and Water Resources Management

Qualifications:

  • BSc Agron Hon. , MSc Soil Science:, Kuban Agrarian University, Federal Republic of Russia(1983- 1989)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe (2014)  

Research Interests:

Land Resources Survey Methodology

  • Land resources data collection and analysis techniques using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques
  • Aerial photography and satellite image interpretation for rural agricultural development project planning
  • Soil conservation planning, suitable dam sites selection and road network planning using RS techniques Land Use Planning
  •             
  • Global approaches to rural land use planning for rural development from FAO and GTZ perspectives
  • Participatory land use planning for rural communities in rural development
  • Systematic and logical steps in land use planning for rural project development
  • Land suitability assessment for rural developments
  • Basic socioeconomic analysis for rural development
  • Rural project implementation procedure
  • Rural project monitoring and evaluation procedure
  • Project reviews and adjustments

Soil Science

  • Soil formation processes, the nature and properties of soils, soil classification
  • Sustainable management of the soil and its conservation

Soil Fertility and Plant Mineral Nutrition

  • Soil reaction and its management
  • Soil organic matter
  • Plant nutrients and their management
  • Soil fertility diagnostic tools

 

Publications:

  • Masaka, J. 2005. The effect of timing and placement method of N fertilizer on soil profile NO3-N and NH+4-N fluctuations and distribution in a leached chernozem under spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, Cv. Spectrum). Journal of Agronomy (Asian Network for Scientific Information), 4 (1): 31-38.
  •  Masaka, J. and E. Chivandi. 2005. The effect of N fertilizer placement and timing on aboveground biomass accumulation and distribution in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, Cv. Spectrum) on leached chernozem. Journal of Agronomy (Asian Network for Scientific Information), 4 (3): 173-180.
  •   Masaka, J. 2005. The effect of N fertilizer placement and timing on uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, Cv. Spectrum) at different phenological stages on leached chernozem. Journal of Agronomy (Asian Network for Scientific Information), 4 (3): 31-38. 
  •  Chivandi, E. Fushai, F. and Masaka, J. 2010. Land ownership and range resources management in Zimbabwe: A historical review. Midlands State University Journal of Science, Agriculture and Technology 1 (2) 12 – 17
  •   J. Masaka, C. Mhazo and M.I. Mushuku. 2007. The effects of planting position, timing of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates on growth and yield of soybean (Glycine max, L). Southern African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 2(1) 7-12.
  •  Masaka, J., F.T. Mugabe and B. Kachigunda. 2005. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer placement and timing on grain quality of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L Cv. Spectrum) on leached chernozem.   Southern Africa Journal of Agriculture and Science-SAJAS.
  •   Masaka, J. 1999. Land tenure system and environmental considerations in sustainable agricultural development in Zimbabwe: A review paper. In: (Ed. V. Ravichandran) Regional land cover changes, sustainable agriculture and their interactions with Global Change, Pp 45-48. Universities Press (India) Limited.
  •   Masaka, J., R. Musundire and C. Koga. 2007. A comparative study of pine bark substrate alternatives in tobacco (Nicotina tabacum) float seedling production systems. International Journal of Agricultural Research, New York, USA 2(1): 11-21.
  •   Masaka, J. 2006. The effect of N fertilizer placement and timing on the aboveground biometric characteristics of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L Cv. Spectrum) on leached chernozem. International Journal of Agricultural Research, New York, USA, 1 (1): 68-75.
  •   Masaka, J. 2006. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer placement and timing on soil pH and available phosphorus under spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L cv. Spectrum) on leached chernozem, International Journal of Soil Science, New York, USA, 78: 23 – 34.
  •   Masaka, J. and E. Chivandi. 2006. The effect of N fertilizer placement and timing on soil profile dynamics of available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium at different growth stages of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, L Cv. Spectrum) on leached chernozem. International Journal of Agricultural Research, New York, USA, 1 (4): 355-363.
  •   Masaka, J. Muguti, P. and Chivandi, E. 2008. Nutrient deficiency effects on the biometric characteristics of tobacco seedlings (Nicotina tobaccum, L) in float tray systems. Journal of Plant Nutrition (Taylor and Francis Publishers) 31: 797 – 808. DOI:10.1080/01904160802043072
  •   Chivandi, E., Sibanda, B.M. and Masaka, J. 2007. Dietary effects of optizyme P5r on the growth performance of day-old Strachio camekus var. domesticus (ostritch chicks). Southern Africa Journal of Agriculture and Science-SAJAS, 2 (1) 2 – 7.
  •   Masaka, J; H.M. Sibanda; J.H. Venema; W. Dzadya and E. Makaza. 1994. Methodology for vegetation inventory and grazing capacity assessment. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ZIM/1/005, Working Document 6, Harare, February, 1994.
  •   Masaka, J. and Muunganirwa, M. 2007. The effects of copper oxy-chloride waste contamination on selected soil biochemical properties at disposal site. Science of the Total Environment (Elsevier Publishers), 387 228 – 236. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2007.07.015
  •   Masaka, J. and Khumbula, N. 2007. The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and Biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery. International Journal of Agricultural Research, New York, USA, 1 (4): 581 – 589.
  •   Masaka, J. and O.J. Zishiri. 1997. Farming systems approach to agricultural development and extension. A review paper. Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX), Gweru, Zimbabwe.
  •   Masaka, J., Musundire, R. and L. Gondongwe. 2007. The effect of float seedling growing media combinations and particle size distribution on germination and biometric characteristics of tobacco seedlings. International Journal of Agricultural Research, New York, USA, 2 (5): 459 – 467.
  •   Masaka, J, Nyamangara, J, Wuta, M. 2014. Nitrous oxide emissions from wetland soil amended with inorganic and organic fertilizers. Journal of the Archives of Agronomy (Taylor and Francis Publishers), DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2014.890707.

Community engagement:

  •   Editor-in-Chief of the Midlands State University Journal of Science, Agriculture, and Technology (MSUJSAT). Under his editorial guidance, the journal has published six issues.
  •  Reviewer for several international scientific journals.
  • A member of the Editorial Committee of the Midlands State University.
  • A member of the Academic Staff Promotions Committee of the MSU
  • Team leader of a group of academics that drafted the proposal submitted to the World Bank by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education for an 8 million US$ funding of a School of Academic Excellence at the Midlands State University.
  • He crafted the academic regulations and ZIMCHE query responses for the proposed Diploma for Agricultural Water Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Climates. This is a joint effort between the MSU and Galilee International Institute of Management in Israel.