Abstract

CONTRERAS-SANTOS, José Luis; VILLAMIL-CARVAJAL, Jorge Enrique; GARNICA-MONTANA, Johanna Paola  and  ATENCIO-SOLANO, Liliana Margarita. Evaluation of the chemical components of the soil in the arracacha production system in Cajamarca, Colombia. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2022, vol.13, n.7, pp.1171-1182.  Epub Nov 22, 2022. ISSN 2007-0934.  https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v13i7.3072.

The crop of arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) is part of the Andean culinary culture and economy of Colombia, its importance lies in being a primary source in the peasant diet and nutrition. The low technification of the crop, associated with inadequate soil management practices, has generated stagnation in regional yields, which has generated an increase in the technological knowledge gap among producers. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the chemical properties of the soil, under the production system of arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza Bancr.) and identify the main chemical limitations of the soil that affect the yield in the crop, in the municipality of Cajamarca, Tolima. Soil samples were taken during the dry-rainy transition period in 50 farms distributed in 17 villages of the municipality, on which the chemical parameters of soils were evaluated, likewise, the production of tuberous roots was estimated based on the average sowing density of the region, 16 666 plants ha-1. It was observed that 81% of the farms evaluated presented an acid reaction (5.25 ±0.15 to 6.6 ±1.1), organic matter (OM) content in the medium range (>3%) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) with low values (3.31 ±0.64 to 15.35 ±10.25 cmol kg-1). The yield of fresh tuberous roots was conditioned to the presence of the contents of OM, interchangeable calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) in the soil. The results obtained showed processes of chemical degradation of the soil associated with fertilization implemented by producers in the region.

Keywords : agricultural production; Apiacea; organic matter; pH; soil.