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The highlands of the Upper Pangani Basin in Tanzania support a dense population of smallholder farmers. However, agriculture in the region is under increasing pressure due to population increase and climate change. In the future farmers must produce more food on less land under a changing and uncertain climate. Before advice can be given to farmers on how to cope, the current farming systems and their relation to the biotic and abiotic environment must first be understood. The overall objective of this thesis is to characterize the banana-based farming systems present on the southern slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro related to the different soil types present in the region. Three banana-based farming systems are characterized on the Southern slope of Mt. Kilimanjaro. In zone Up (1700 m) fields consist of a wide variety of crops and trees, and mainly food crops are grown. Thanks to abundant rainfall and fertile soils, households produce enough food to be self-sufficient year-round. The most important banana group is Mchare, which is cooked and consumed locally. In this elevation zone, an Umbric Nitisol with high organic carbon (TOC) is typical. Due to the high precipitation and weathering, generally a very low cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) are found in the zone, which can be restricting for crop growth. The farming system in zone Mid (1300 m) is similar to zone Up, with a wide variety of crops grown in one field. However, rainfall is more seasonal, and dry seasons are more pronounced. As a result the majority of the households struggle to produce enough food for a few months per year, and must buy food. Banana production is 10 times higher than in zone Up and the Mchare and Cavendish form the two most important groups. Besides being a food crop, banana is also a cash crop along with coffee. At around 1400 m, a Silandic Andosol is analyzed, with low CEC and moderate BS and TOC. A major problem for the soils in Up and Mid is phosphorus (P) fixation, evident from low P content and deficiency in maize. At around 1000 m is an Ortho-eutric Mollic Nitisol. As elevation decreases, TOC decreases to low while BS increases to high, and CEC and P are moderate. Due to population pressure in zone Up and Mid people settled in the lowlands at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro, or zone Low (750m). Rainfall is scarce, so irrigation is needed to grow crops. By locating close to permanent water sources, food can be produced year-round, making farmers self-sufficient. Crops are grown in monoculture, and the major banana is Cavendish, produced for export. In this zone we find a Luvic Phaeozem. With less precipitation and higher temperature, TOC decreases to Low. High CEC and BS are typical of this generally fertile soil, where farming has not been present as long as in Mid and Up. This soil is suitable for irrigated agriculture and raising cattle, which are two major activities in the region.