Properties of a cultivated soil of irrigated rice under conservation agriculture principles

Calixto Domínguez Vento, Alexander Miranda Caballero, Guillermo Díaz López, Duniesky Domínguez Palacio, Carmen Duarte Díaz, Michel Ruiz Sánchez and Amaury Rodríguez González

Net Journal of Agricultural Science
Published: February 12 2024
Volume 12, Issue 1
Pages 9-16

ABSTRACT

The practice of miles of hectares in different parts of the world has determined that the concepts and principles of Conservation Agriculture (CA) are of international validity. However, in irrigated rice cultivation, there are still few studies carried out and there is significant variability in the information on its effect on the soil and the agricultural yield of the crop, depending on the type of soil. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of CA on the physical and chemical properties of a Gleysol Plinthic soil dedicated to the cultivation of irrigated rice in Los Palacios municipality. The research was conducted in an area of 2.63 ha in which the three basic principles of the CA (no-tillage, soil mulch cover and diversified cropping) were implemented. The results show that after four cycles of planting under the CA there was an increase in organic matter from 2.41 to 3.66 % with respect to the baseline. The total porosity was increased to 9.51 %, the apparent density decreased to 0.04 g cm^-3 and the penetration resistance was reduced from 4.29 to 3.41 MPa, showing enhanced soil health.

Keywords: Zero tillage, organic matter, soil bulk density, soil mulch, diversified cropping.

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