Utilización de dos fuentes orgánicas en la producción de Medicago sativa (alfalfa morada) en la parroquia Atahualpa cantón Ambato.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity of purple alfalfa (Medicago sativa) using two organic fertilizers. In the Atahualpa sector, Ambato Canton, Tungurahua province, the effect of two organic fertilizers (Fertiplus organic mineral fertilizer 4 t/ha and humus 4 t/ha), compared with a control treatment with five replicates in a total area of 450 square meters on alfalfa production was evaluated. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design to determine differences, and the Tukey test was used to separate means. Different productive variables were evaluated for 60 days. When evaluating the productive performance of alfalfa, the best results were obtained by applying humus: the highest basal cover at 45 days (44 cm), the highest aerial cover at 45 days (97.20 cm), and the highest plant height at 45 days (74.99 cm). The highest forage was produced in the prairie fertilized with humus (24.97 t/ha/GF/cut), and the highest dry matter (DM) amount was 6.58 t/DM/ha. When finishing the experiment, it was determined that the best results were obtained from the application of humus (4 t/ha) in the following variables: basal cover, aerial cover, plant height, green forage production, and DM, showing this organic fertilizer was better than Fertiplus (4 t/ha) in the forage production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa); the cost/benefit was $1.53. However, in the economic analysis, the control treatment was better than humus because the cost/benefit was $1.98. Therefore, we recommend to use organic fertilizers such as humus.