Soil quality in garlic crops under agroecological transition at Río Negro, Argentina

Abstract

ntroduction: Agroecological transition is the adoption of different practices that tend towards sustainable agriculture, among which the substitution of synthetic inputs by alternative or organic ones stands out. Objective: To evaluate the changes in the physicochemical and biological quality of soils fertilized with onion residue compost and cattle manure in a garlic crop. Methodology: Three sources of fertilization were tested in a garlic crop with gravity irrigation: 1) compost of onion residues with cattle manure, 2) monoammonium phosphate and 3) compost and monoammonium phosphate. Five soil samples were taken on different dates and soil respiration, esterase and dehydrogenase activity, and fertility were determined. Results: Similar garlic yields were obtained with the different fertilization sources. In composted soils, electrical conductivity and sodium absorption ratio decreased, but increased until reaching similar values to the soil that received mineral fertilization. Limitations of the study: The agroecological transition proposal is sustainable if compost production is carried out on the same site. Originality: The use of compost from onion production residues and cattle manure is proposed as an alternative for the reduction of synthetic inputs in the production of morado garlic. Conclusions: The use of composted residues from the previous cycles production proved to be a sustainable alternative for the agroecological transition of morado garlic crops with gravity irrigation in the lower valley of Río Negro.