El biocarbón aplicado al suelo retiene agua y nutrientes en los valles interandinos del Departamento de Cochabamba, Bolivia
Abstract
La agricultura de los valles templados en los Andes bolivianos está enfrentando graves desafíos en cuanto a las actuales condiciones de sus suelos y alteraciones climáticas en el futuro. Estas obligan ajustes en el uso de los recursos básicos, agua y suelo, y adaptaciones en la práctica agrícola en general. El estudio presente examina si la incorporación de biocarbón puede mejorar la calidad del suelo y a la vez prevenir la degradación. Las mediciones se llevaron a cabo entre marzo y julio de 2019 en una parcela agro forestal, que se implementó para el estudio presente en Mollesnejta, Cochabamba. Los tratamientos de biocarbón fueron divididos en dos grupos experimentales con 10 réplicas por grupo. El grupo 1 tenía una dosis de 25,6 kg biocarbón por m3 y el grupo 2 se caracterizaba por la doble cantidad, 51,6 kg m-3. Para evaluar el éxito de esta práctica se escogió medir la humedad, el contenido de nitrógeno tanto como el pH y la capacidad de intercambio catiónico. En comparación con el grupo control, los dos grupos con biocarbón evidenciaron efectos positivos sobre las condiciones edáficas: el biocarbón aumentó el pH, la capacidad potencial de intercambio catiónico y el contenido no solo de agua sino también de nitrógeno total. Hubo un aumento significativo (p<0.05) en el contenido del nitrógeno total y en el caso de la humedad fue incluso altamente significativo (p<0,001). Para estos resultados muy positivos se plantearon explicaciones que se referían principalmente a las propiedades estructurales y químicas del biocarbón.
The agriculture of the temperate valleys in the Bolivian Andes faces severe challenges concerning actual soil conditions and climate alterations in the future. These oblige adjustments in the use of the basic resources water and soil plus adaptations of the agricultural practice in general. The present study examines whether the incorporation of biochar into soils is able to meliorate the local soil quality and prevent degradation processes. Soil humidity, total nitrogen content and basic soil parameters were chosen as indicators for possible effects of the proposed treatment. The measurements took place between March and July of 2019 in an agroforestry parcel, which was implemented for the scientific purpose of this study in the research centre Mollesnejta in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The biochar treatments were divided into two groups of each 10 replications. Group 1 had a dosage of 25.8 kg biochar per m3, while the amendment of group 2 was the double, 51.6 kg m-3. In comparison to the control group both showed positive effects due to the biochar amendments on soil conditioris: Biochar increased soil pH, potential cation exchange capacity, soil moisture and total nitrogen content. The effect on the last-mentioned parameter was significant (p < 0.05) and in the case of the biochar effect on soil water content highly significant (p < 0.001). The results showed clearly positive effects of biochar on soil physical and chemical conditions. They were discussed and mainly explained by the structural properties of biochar, such as its high porosity and particular surface chemistry.
The agriculture of the temperate valleys in the Bolivian Andes faces severe challenges concerning actual soil conditions and climate alterations in the future. These oblige adjustments in the use of the basic resources water and soil plus adaptations of the agricultural practice in general. The present study examines whether the incorporation of biochar into soils is able to meliorate the local soil quality and prevent degradation processes. Soil humidity, total nitrogen content and basic soil parameters were chosen as indicators for possible effects of the proposed treatment. The measurements took place between March and July of 2019 in an agroforestry parcel, which was implemented for the scientific purpose of this study in the research centre Mollesnejta in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The biochar treatments were divided into two groups of each 10 replications. Group 1 had a dosage of 25.8 kg biochar per m3, while the amendment of group 2 was the double, 51.6 kg m-3. In comparison to the control group both showed positive effects due to the biochar amendments on soil conditioris: Biochar increased soil pH, potential cation exchange capacity, soil moisture and total nitrogen content. The effect on the last-mentioned parameter was significant (p < 0.05) and in the case of the biochar effect on soil water content highly significant (p < 0.001). The results showed clearly positive effects of biochar on soil physical and chemical conditions. They were discussed and mainly explained by the structural properties of biochar, such as its high porosity and particular surface chemistry.
Description
Vol. 9, No. 3