Evaluation of Chemical and Physical Profiles of Three Cacao Areas Located in an Inceptisol from El Carmen, Manabí Province, Ecuador

Alfredo Reyes Hernández*¹, Amstrong Edison Agustín Vera Loor² and Ariany Colás Sánchez³

Received: June 16, 2018;   Published: June 21, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.05.001277

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Abstract

The present research was carried out in cocoa production areas belonging to an Inceptisol from El Carmen canton, which is located in Ecuador, specifically in Manabí province. It was developed from November through December 2016 at 300m above the sea level, at a latitude of 0º 16’11’’S, a longitude of 79º 43’ 33’’W and an average annual precipitation of 2,700 mm. The study was aimed at evaluating chemical and physical properties of the representative profiles of an Inceptisol devoted to the production of cocoa developed in different periods. In this exploratory research soil profiles were carried out in cocoa plantations having 2, 6 and 10 years, from which three samples of each horizon of 1 kg were taken. Each sample was analyzed according to the following features: pH in H2O and KCl, organic matter (%), assimilable phosphorus and potassium measured in mg 100g-1, Ca+2, Mg+2, K+ and Na+ in cmol(+) kg-1, T Value in cmol(+) kg-1, as well as bulk and weight density in g/ cm3. Descriptive, Pearson product-moment correlation and simple regression analyses were conducted. It was concluded that the highest organic matter percentage was found in the first horizon, whereas assimilable phosphorus and potassium levels were low with calcium being predominant within the exchangeable cations. The soil total porosity showed the highest typical deviation and variation taking into account the rest of the properties that were studied. Organic matter percentages showed a positive relationship with the soil bulk density, notwithstanding, magnesium had a negative effect on the available potassium.

Keywords: Physical properties; Organic matter; Soil fertility; Soil acidity

Summary: The work was developed in areas of production of cocoa crops in an Inceptisol of the canton El Carmen, Manabí province, Ecuador in the months of November and December 2016 at altitude 300 m asl, latitude 0º 16’11 ‘’ South, length: 79º 43 ‘33’ ‘W and precipitation of 2 700 mm on average annually with the objective of evaluating chemical and physical properties of profiles representative of an Inceptisol dedicated to the production of cocoa of different established ages. The research was exploratory where they made soil profiles in cocoa plantations with 2, 6 and 10 years, where three samples were taken from each horizon of 1 kg. Each replica was determined in pH (H2O) and in (KCl), organic matter (%), phosphorus and potassium assimilable in mg 100g-1; Ca+2, Mg+ 2, K+ and Na+ in cmol(+) kg-1; T value in cmol (+) kg-1; apparent and real densities in g / cm3. Descriptive statistical analyzes, bilateral Pearson correlations and simple regression were performed. It was concluded that: the highest percentage of organic matter was found in the first horizon, while the contents of phosphorus and potassium assimilable were low, with predominance of calcium within the bases changeable; the total porosity of the soil was the one with the most standard deviation and variation with respect to the rest of the properties studied and the percentages of organic matter showed a positive relationship with the apparent density of the soil, but magnesium had a negative impact on the available potassium.

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