Selection of soil quality indicators in different productive systems of the municipality of Cachipay (Phase 2)

Abstract

Agricultural management practices can negatively modify soil properties and cause serious effects in its functionality and sustainability. This study evaluated the effect on soil quality generated by different management techniques in six agricultural production systems (APS) (polyculture, coffee, pasture, guatila and guadua forest) of Campo Experimental de Tecnologías Ambientales - Universidad Central located in the municipality of Cachipay, Cundinamarca. Two independent areas that represented each system were selected, two quadrants were established within each area, and from these two composite samples were taken for a total of 20 soil samples. To evaluate the effect of agricultural management on edaphic quality, different physical, chemical, and microbiological properties were analyzed. Polyculture and coffee showed higher contents of organic carbon and humidity, pH values close to neutrality and low bulk density. Pasture registered higher values in stability index, weighted mean diameter and geometric mean diameter. As a minimum set of data to evaluate soil quality it is possible to include the variables: phosphate solubilizing bacteria, pH, geometric mean diameter, and stability index.


Author biographies

Angélica Paola Mendoza Hernández
Estudiante de Ingeniería Ambiental, integrante del Grupo de Investigación Agua y Desarrollo Sostenible.
Correo electrónico: amendozah@ucentral.edu.co.

María Fernanda Bautista Murcia
Estudiante de Ingeniería Ambiental, integrante del Grupo de Investigación Agua y Desarrollo Sostenible.
Correo electrónico: mbautistam1@ucentral.edu.co.

Victoria Eugenia Vallejo
Profesora asociada del Departamento de Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad Central. 
Correo electrónico: evallejoq@ucentral.edu.co.