Soil quality evaluation: generation and interpretation of indicators
Por:
Castillo-Valdez, Ximena, Etchevers-Barra, J. D., Hidalgo-Moreno C.Ma.I., Aguirre-Gomez, Arturo
Publicada:
1 ene 2021
Resumen:
Soil management practices alter its properties, especially when the
energy inputs to the soil-plant system are less than the outputs, or its
resilience is unable to return it to the state prior to the
intervention. When the disturbances approach the tolerance limits of the
soil system, factors that limit production appear. Changes can be
established using quality indicators and indices. These show the
direction of change over time. The objective of this work was to
evaluate the current soil quality in four agricultural ejidos of
Tepeaca, Puebla, Mexico, which have centuries of dedication to
agricultural production. The history, the most common cropping patterns
and the dominant land classes, defined with the participation of local
producers, were investigated. Physical, chemical and biological
properties of soils subjected to different management were analyzed and
quality indicators were defined. The selection criteria for the sampling
sites were the most frequent cultivation patterns as follows: (i) cut
flower, (ii) continuous vegetables, and (iii) vegetables with resting
period during the season with no rain. The same soils were used without
management as reference. The properties selected as indicators were the
following: pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, wet
aggregate stability, Olsen extractable phosphorus, DTPA extractable
iron, and earthworm density. The first four were sensitive to
differentiate between undisturbed (uncultivated) soils from cultivated
soils. The last four were selected by showing rates of change according
to cropping patterns, which indicates the need to promote agronomic
management strategies. With these properties, a soil quality index was
built that allows to establish the direction of change that soil quality
will experience when modifying one or more indicators.
Filiaciones:
Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo., Carretera México-Texcoco km 36.5, Montecillo., Texcoco, Estado de México, 56230, Mexico
Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, UNAM, A Teoloyucan km 2.5, San Sebastian Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli, 54714, Mexico
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