Abstract

OROZCO CORRAL, Alfonso Luis et al. Physical, chemical and biological soil properties with biofertilization in apple orchards. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.4, pp.441-456. ISSN 2395-8030.

Apple production in Chihuahua, Mexico, has a fundamental role in the primary sector. Today, apple orchards cover 30 000 hectares, and 2500 farmers are dedicated to apple growing. It is the most intensive crop in the region; it accounts for 71% of domestic production and generates 3.5 million jobs annually. Low soil fertility is a fact that negatively impacts these areas affected by overuse of chemical fertilizers, which has resulted in high levels of pollution, increased compaction and salinity, decline in soil organic matter and decrease in soil microbiology, reducing yield, fruit quality and profitability. In search of sustainability, attempts have been made to replace agrochemicals with organic products. However, in apple production there is no information on proper organic agroecological management for the most important apple growing region of Mexico. This study was conducted during the production cycles 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 in apple orchards (Malus domestica Borkh) cv. Golden Supreme in the municipality of Guerrero, Chihuahua. Two treatments were established: T-1 (biofertilization + chemical fertilizer) where 50% biofertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer was applied; T-2 (chemical fertilizer), the control treatment, representing traditional farmer management, was application of chemical fertilizer. In each cycle, both treatments had applications of 6 Mg ha-1 vermicompost and 30 Mg ha-1 pine sawdust as organic mulch. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of the combined application of biofertilizer and chemical fertilization on the physical, chemical and biological soil properties. Results showed that T-1, the combination of biofertilization and chemical fertilization, vermicompost and pine sawdust as mulch, had a positive effect on water storage capacity (10.36%), cation exchange capacity (83.05%), soil organic matter (24.41%) and soil microbial biomass (113.99%), relative to T-2. The range of benefits provided by the liquid bio-fertilizer, vermicompost and pine sawdust as mulch resulted in increased soil fertility.

Keywords : soil microorganisms; soil organic matter; cation exchange capacity.

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