Evaluación de la calidad de suelo para uso agrícola en la parroquia Izamba

Abstract

Izamba rural parish, located in Ambato County, Tungurahua province has been characterized by its productivity in the agricultural area, over time farmers have been indirectly forced by urbanization projects, the supply and demand for their products, the increase in the production, together with the use of non-organic fertilizers, urea and leather for tannery, even without considering the negative consequences for the soil quality and health. The aim of this technical project was to evaluate the incidence of heavy metals due to the use of non-organic fertilizers and their environmental impact on agricultural soils of Izamba rural parish, located in Ambato County. So, it was necessary to collect data through a topographic baseline in which 15 points were selected to be sampled by the random method, surveys were also applied to the farming population identifying economic, social and environmental aspects of the area. The soil samples collected were analyzed in triplicate for physical-chemical parameters and the result was that the soil has a sandy loam texture with a neutral alkaline pH. To complement the quality of the agricultural soil, the macronutrient and micronutrient content was analyzed, showing an imbalance in the amount of nutrients it contains. As for the study of heavy metals compared with the 97A ministerial agreement found in the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador and with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (EPA), it was evidenced that nickel, arsenic, mercury and selenium are within the established permissible parameters, but the concentration of hexavalent chromium exceeds the permissible limits, this evidences contamination problems that affect the quality of the soil and probably the farmers and consumers’ health.