Índices de calidad del suelo y parámetros de crecimiento de cultivos de cobertura en una plantación de Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)
Authors
Puertas Ramos, Fernando Volker
Abstract
La calidad del suelo es el indicador primario del manejo sostenible de suelos y es considerado un componente crítico de la agricultura sustentable. Por lo tanto, es importante conocer los cambios en las propiedades físicas, químicas y biológicas del suelo para lograr un mejor índice de calidad por el uso de coberturas. Para lograr este objetivo, se instaló un ensayo en la estación
experimental “El Choclino”, del Instituto de Cultivos Tropicales, San Martín, Perú. Se seleccionaron cinco cultivos de cobertura: Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg, Calopogonium mucunoides (L.), Callisia repens (Jacq.) L., Canavalia ensiformis (L.) y Centrosema macrocarpum Benth, y se contrastaron con una parcela control sin cobertura. Al año de sembradas las coberturas se estableció la plantación de cacao. Los muestreos del suelo para los análisis de fertilidad y comunidad microbiana del suelo se realizaron antes de la siembra, al primer y segundo año de sembradas las coberturas. Se evaluó las características de crecimiento de las coberturas (biomasa aérea y radicular, aporte potencial de nutrientes, tasa de descomposición de la hojarasca), altura y diámetro de tallo de las plantas de cacao e indicadores de calidad del suelo. En base a estos indicadores se calculó el Índice de Calidad de Suelos Aditivo (ICSA) para los sistemas evaluados. En promedio, Centrosema macrocarpum produjo más cantidad de materia seca (12.70 t ha-1) y logró la mayor capacidad extractiva de nutrientes.
Los indicadores de calidad del suelo como densidad aparente, resistencia mecánica del suelo, infiltración, temperatura del suelo, contenido de materia orgánica, fósforo disponible, población de nemátodos, bacterias y hongos e índice de diversidad de Shannon fueron influenciados por los cultivos de cobertura a través de los años. Se concluye que el ICSA se incrementó
significativamente debido a los cambios positivos de los indicadores del suelo por efecto de las coberturas C. macrocarpum, C. ensiformis y C. repens, cuyos cambios no favorecieron significativamente a las plantas de cacao en su primera etapa de crecimiento.
Soil quality is the primary indicator of sustainable management of soils and is considered as a critical component of sustainable agriculture. Cover crops play crucial role in modification of soil quality factors. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the changes in soil quality factors (physical, chemical, biological) under cover crops grown in cacao plantation. Such an evaluation will assist in development of better soil quality indicators to monitor the changes in soil fertility under cover crops. Field experiment was installed at the Research Station of Choclino, San Martin, Peru, to evaluate soil quality factors under cover crops. Five cover crops selected for the study includes: Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg, Calopogonium mucunoides (L.) Callisia repens (Jacq.) L., Canavalia ensiformis (L.) and Centrosema macrocarpum Benth, and treatment with no cover crop was included as control. One year after planting of cover crops the cacao plantation was established. Before planting, one and second year after planting cover crops soil samples were obtained to determine soil quality factors. Growth and nutrient uptake parameters of cover crops (foliar and root biomass, nutrient uptake, decomposition rates of cover crop residues), plant height and stem diameter of cacao plants were evaluated. Based on soil quality factors Additive Soil Quality Index (ASQI) was calculated. Average, nutrient extraction capacity and dry biomass production (12.70 t ha-1) by Centrosema macrocarpum were significantly higher than the other cover crops. Physical, chemical and biological indicators such as bulk density, soil resistance, infiltration, soil temperature, organic matter and phosphorous content, populations of nematodes, bacteria and fungi and the Shannon index were influenced by cover crops through the years. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that best ASQI was achieved under C. repens, C. ensiformis and C. macrocarpum. However these positive changes in soil quality indicators had no significant effects on development of cocoa plants in their early growth, however these ASQI could have significant effects on growth and development of cacao as time progresses.
Soil quality is the primary indicator of sustainable management of soils and is considered as a critical component of sustainable agriculture. Cover crops play crucial role in modification of soil quality factors. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the changes in soil quality factors (physical, chemical, biological) under cover crops grown in cacao plantation. Such an evaluation will assist in development of better soil quality indicators to monitor the changes in soil fertility under cover crops. Field experiment was installed at the Research Station of Choclino, San Martin, Peru, to evaluate soil quality factors under cover crops. Five cover crops selected for the study includes: Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg, Calopogonium mucunoides (L.) Callisia repens (Jacq.) L., Canavalia ensiformis (L.) and Centrosema macrocarpum Benth, and treatment with no cover crop was included as control. One year after planting of cover crops the cacao plantation was established. Before planting, one and second year after planting cover crops soil samples were obtained to determine soil quality factors. Growth and nutrient uptake parameters of cover crops (foliar and root biomass, nutrient uptake, decomposition rates of cover crop residues), plant height and stem diameter of cacao plants were evaluated. Based on soil quality factors Additive Soil Quality Index (ASQI) was calculated. Average, nutrient extraction capacity and dry biomass production (12.70 t ha-1) by Centrosema macrocarpum were significantly higher than the other cover crops. Physical, chemical and biological indicators such as bulk density, soil resistance, infiltration, soil temperature, organic matter and phosphorous content, populations of nematodes, bacteria and fungi and the Shannon index were influenced by cover crops through the years. Based on the obtained results it was concluded that best ASQI was achieved under C. repens, C. ensiformis and C. macrocarpum. However these positive changes in soil quality indicators had no significant effects on development of cocoa plants in their early growth, however these ASQI could have significant effects on growth and development of cacao as time progresses.
Description
Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. Escuela de Posgrado. Doctorado en Agricultura Sustentable
Keywords
Theobroma cacao, Plantas de cobertura, Suelo, Calidad, Cultivos, Fertilidad del suelo, Rendimiento de cultivos, Manejo del cultivo, Etapas del desarrollo de la planta, Propiedades físico-químicas suelo, Microorganismos del suelo, Evaluación, Perú, Agricultura sustentable, Estación Experimental El Choclino
Citation
Date
2009
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Excepto si se señala otra cosa, la licencia del ítem se describe como info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess