Determinación del índice de calidad de suelo a dos altitudes en dos sistemas de labranza para el cultivo de papa (Solanum tuberosum l.) en Tunshi

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the quality index at two altitudes in two tillage systems for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivation at Tunshi experimental station, located in Licto parish, Riobamba canton, Chimborazo province. The methodology proposed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was applied to establish the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, while the Cantú method was used to determine the quality index. Geographic Information Technologies were used for the georeferenced base mapping. The soils belong to the entisol order, with a sandy loam texture, arable layer depth of 50.75 cm, infiltration rate of 15.19 mm/h, shear strength of 0.02 kg/cm2, real density of 2.39 g/cm3, apparent density of 1, 27 g/cm3, porosity percentage of 45.58 %, electrical conductivity of 0.25 dS/m, pH of 7.42, organic matter of 1.88 %, nitrogen of 3.46 mg/L, phosphorus of 30.10 mg/L, potassium of 2.21 meq/100g, C/N ratio of 1.07 meq/100g, and 4 earthworms. The quality index is 0.45. It is concluded that the reduced or minimum tillage system is adequate for soil preparation, which influences the conservation of physical, chemical and biological properties. The soil quality index is in the moderate quality category.