Soil Diversity in the oil palm Growing Area of Puerto Wilches and San Vicente de Chucurí, Department of Santander (Colombia)
Publicación:
Revista Palmas; Vol. 26 Núm. 4 (2005); 11-23
0121-2923
Revista Palmas; Vol. 26 Núm. 4 (2005); 11-23
0121-2923
Abstract
Knowing the soils in detail is fundamental for the appropriate application of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) production technology, which in turn is a requisite for attaining sustainability and competitiveness in this industry. Due to the above, a detailed soil survey (1:10.000 scale) was conducted on 10.852 ha of cultivated land in the municipalities of Puerto Wilches and San Vicente de Chucurí (Colombia). The main results of that survey are presented in this paper. It was found that the diversity in geomorphology and parent materials has played an important role determining soil diversity in the study area. The soils of the area belong to three orders (according to the Soil Taxonomy classification system), although most of the area (97,8 %) is under Inceptisols, which have soil profiles with an ochric epipedon over a cambic horizon and less frequently, an umbric epipedon over a cambic horizon. Within the Inceptisols, diversity was found related to the soil moisture regime and base saturation which determined the presence of Dystrudepts (91,7 % of the area) and Endoaquepts (6,1 % of the area). The most common Dystrudepts were the soils classified as Fluventic Dystrudepts (5.600 ha) followed by Oxic Dystrudepts, Fluvaquentic Dystrudepts and Aquic Humic Dystrudepts. Soil diversity is greater at the family classification category which involves differentiation criteria such as particle size classes, mineralogy, and cation exchange activity. The results indicate that the soil diversity found in the study area should be kept in mind for the appropriate and efficient management of oil palm crops and they constitute the starting point for the implementation of site specific management schemes. Dado que el conocimiento detallado de los suelos es necesario para la correcta aplicación de la tecnología al cultivo de palma de aceite (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) y por tanto para contar con esquemas de producción sostenible y competitiva, se adelantó un levantamiento detallado de suelos (escala 1:10.000) en un área cultivada de 10.852 ha de los municipios de Puerto Wilches y San Vicente de Chucurí, del cual se tomaron para esta publicación los principales resultados que muestran la existencia de una amplia diversidad de suelos. Se encontró que la diversidad en geomorfología y materiales de origen ha jugado un papel importante en determinar la diversidad edáfica observada. Los suelos estudiados pertenecen a tres órdenes (de acuerdo con el sistema de clasificación Soil Taxonomy), aunque la mayor parte del área (97,8 %) está cubierta por Inceptisoles, los cuales presentaron perfiles compuestos por un epipedón ócrico sobre un endopedón cámbico y con menor frecuencia por un epipedón úmbrico sobre un endopedón cámbico. Dentro de este orden se encontró diversidad relacionada con criterios de diferenciación como régimen de humedad y saturación de bases, de tal forma que se presentan Dystrudepts (91,7 % del área) y Endoaquepts (6,1 % del área). En los Dystrudepts tuvieron mayor ocurrencia los suelos clasificados como Fluventic Dystrudepts (5.600 ha) seguidos por los Oxic Dystrudepts, Fluvaquentic Dystrudepts y Aquic Humic Dystrudepts. La diversidad edáfica se incrementa al aplicar los criterios de la clasificación hasta la categoría de familia taxonómica; ellos son, las clases por tamaño de partículas, por mineralogía, y por actividad de intercambio catiónico. De los resultados se infiere que la diversidad edáfica del área estudiada debe tenerse en cuenta para el manejo apropiado y eficiente del cultivo de palma de aceite. Los productos primarios obtenidos en el levantamiento representan una base importante para introducir sistemas de manejo específicos por sitio en el cultivo de palma de aceite en la región.
Knowing the soils in detail is fundamental for the appropriate application of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) production technology, which in turn is a requisite for attaining sustainability and competitiveness in this industry. Due to the above, a detailed soil survey (1:10.000 scale) was conducted on 10.852 ha of cultivated land in the municipalities of Puerto Wilches and San Vicente de Chucurí (Colombia). The main results of that survey are presented in this paper. It was found that the diversity in geomorphology and parent materials has played an important role determining soil diversity in the study area. The soils of the area belong to three orders (according to the Soil Taxonomy classification system), although most of the area (97,8 %) is under Inceptisols, which have soil profiles with an ochric epipedon over a cambic horizon and less frequently, an umbric epipedon over a cambic horizon. Within the Inceptisols, diversity was found related to the soil moisture regime and base saturation which determined the presence of Dystrudepts (91,7 % of the area) and Endoaquepts (6,1 % of the area). The most common Dystrudepts were the soils classified as Fluventic Dystrudepts (5.600 ha) followed by Oxic Dystrudepts, Fluvaquentic Dystrudepts and Aquic Humic Dystrudepts. Soil diversity is greater at the family classification category which involves differentiation criteria such as particle size classes, mineralogy, and cation exchange activity. The results indicate that the soil diversity found in the study area should be kept in mind for the appropriate and efficient management of oil palm crops and they constitute the starting point for the implementation of site specific management schemes.
Palabras clave:
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
clasificación de suelos
tipos de suelos
unidades productivas
desarrollo sostenible
palma de aceite
elaeis guineensis
clasificación de suelos
tipos de suelos
unidades productivas
desarrollo sostenible