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TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACH: THE CUBAN CASE OLEGARIO MUÑIZ UGARTE Soils Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Havana, Cuba. E-mail: [email protected] TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACH: THE CUBAN CASE OLEGARIO MUÑIZ UGARTE Soils Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Havana, Cuba. E-mail: [email protected] Summary Summary Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, agricultural production in Cuba was characterized by high use of external inputs: chemical fertilizers, pesticides, mechanization and fuel. As a result, millions of hectares of soil degraded and compacted. The content of or ganic matter decreased, and pH values of soils increased affecting certain crops such as vegetables, tubers and rice. Due to the economic downturn affecting Cuba and the continuous decreasing support from socialist countries in Europe since 1990, the use of chemical fertilizers and other inputs has sharply decreased to 20-25% from the consumption levels observed in the 1980s. On the one hand, this decline negatively affected agricultural productivity and on the other, it provided Cuban scientists with a u nique opportunity to play a protagonist role in the search for more effective and efficient ways of using traditional agricultural inputs (zeolite and Cuban rock phosphate employ included) as well as other national alternative sources such as organic manu res, vermicompost, green manures, and a wide variety of biofertilizers. The combination of lower levels of inputs and other alternative sources together with the introduction of new forms of production, allow today Cuban farmers to obtain higher average y ields than those obtained during the 1990s. The analysis of organic production in Cuba was also considered. In the framework of the organic production, the successful movement of Urban Agriculture is also considered. The paper concludes that under Cuban conditions in particular (and Latin America in general), sustainable agriculture is possible only by incorporating an Integrated Crop Nutrition Management approach. This approach is based on a) the diversification of t he agricultural production in a determined area allowing crop rotation, and b) the management of all nutrient sources (including chemical fertilizers) and water in order to optimize the efficiency of nutrients supply to the different crops. The paper also shows an example of this approach. Degraded Cuban soils Eutrustox Soil Havana province Plinthustult Soil Pinar del Río province In the Organic Production framework, Cuba has developed a strong movement: URBAN AGRICULTURE based on 3 principles: • use of organic manures and biological pest control. • rational use of local resources. • direct commercialization of products from producers to consumers. In In the the Organic Organic Production Production framework framework , Cuba has , Cuba has developed developed a a strong strong movement movement: URBAN AGRICULTURE URBAN AGRICULTURE based based on on 3 3 principles principles: • use of use of organic organic manures manures and and biological biological pest pest control. control. • rational rational use of local use of local resources resources. • direct direct commercialization commercialization of of products products from from producers producers to to consumers consumers. Canavalia Mucuna GREEN GREEN MANURES MANURES Sesbania Sesbania rostrata rostrata ORGANIC MANURES: ORGANIC MANURES: n Cattle Cattle and and other other animals animals manures manures. n Cachaza ( Cachaza ( sugar sugar industry industry residues residues ). ). n Compost ( Compost ( including including organic organic manures manures mixed mixed with with Zeolite Zeolite) n Vermicompost. Vermicompost. n Organic Organic manures manures mixed mixed with with little little quantities quantities of of chemical chemical fertilizers fertilizers. CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS Limited Limited quantities quantities are are used used but but new new innovative innovative forms forms and and methods methods were were developed developed to to increase increase their their efficiency efficiency . . Thus Thus: • Fertigation Fertigation • Folial Folial spray spray • Natural Natural Zeolite Zeolite ( Clinoptilolite Clinoptilolite , a mineral , a mineral with with very very high high CEC CEC that that allows allows to to increase increase N N fertilizers fertilizers efficiency efficiency ). ). • Cuban Cuban rock rock phosphates phosphates ( acidulated acidulated with with sulfuric sulfuric acid acid ) ) BIOFERTILIZERS. BIOFERTILIZERS. Cuba Cuba possesses possesses a complete a complete system system for for producing producing and and commercializing commercializing: n Rhizobium Rhizobium n Bradyrhizobium Bradyrhizobium n Azotobacter Azotobacter n Azospirillum Azospirillum n Phosphobacterias Phosphobacterias n Micorriza Micorriza VA VA Artisan Artisan production production of of Rhizobium Rhizobium During During 2004, 2004, 96,400 ha 96,400 ha of different crops economically of different crops economically benefited from the use of benefited from the use of Biofertilizers Biofertilizers. A SUSTAINABLE A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH APPROACH Chemical Chemical Organic Organic Green Green Fertilizers Fertilizers Manures Manures Manures Manures INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACH APPROACH Crop Crop Residues Residues Biofertilizers Biofertilizers For For Cuban Cuban conditions conditions in particular ( in particular ( and and Latin Latin America America in in general), general), sustainable sustainable agriculture agriculture is is possible possible only only by by the the diversification diversification of of the the production production and and the the use of use of all all Sources Sources: An An example example is is the the COMMON BEAN COMMON BEAN - MAIZE / CANAVALIA MAIZE / CANAVALIA- COMMON BEAN COMMON BEAN crop crop rotation rotation developed developed and and validated validated in in Eutrostox Eutrostox soil of soil of Havana Havana province province with with the the use of: use of: n Minimum Minimum tillage tillage. n Little Little quantities quantities of N of N fertilizer fertilizer. n Rhizobium Rhizobium biofertilizer biofertilizer. n Cuban Cuban rock rock phosphate phosphate. n Recycling Recycling crops crops residues residues. n Green Green manure manure ( Canavalia Canavalia ). ). Source Source : Mu : Muñ iz et al. (2002) iz et al. (2002) Cuban Agriculture works on a rational and Cuban Agriculture works on a rational and efficient use of all the nutrient sources, efficient use of all the nutrient sources, including chemical fertilizers, in order to including chemical fertilizers, in order to satisfy the increasing nourishment demands satisfy the increasing nourishment demands of the population. The approach is of the population. The approach is economic, ecological and sustainable, and it economic, ecological and sustainable, and it is helping to preserve soils, our main natural is helping to preserve soils, our main natural resource, for future generations. This is the resource, for future generations. This is the challenge for Cuban scientists. challenge for Cuban scientists. CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS Selected Selected References References • Mart Martí nez Viera, R. y G. Hern nez Viera, R. y G. Hernández. Los ndez. Los biofertilizantes biofertilizantes en la agricultura en la agricultura cubana. cubana. En: En: Res Resúmenes del III Encuentro de Nacional de Agricultura menes del III Encuentro de Nacional de Agricultura Org Orgánica. La Habana. 1995. nica. La Habana. 1995. • Mart Martí nez, F., B. Calero, R. Nogales, y L. nez, F., B. Calero, R. Nogales, y L. Rovesti Rovesti . . Lombricultura Lombricultura . Manual . Manual Pr Práctico. La Habana. 2003. 120p. ctico. La Habana. 2003. 120p. • Mu Muñiz, O., G. Due iz, O., G. Dueñas; L. G as; L. Gómez; C. A. Alfonso; M. mez; C. A. Alfonso; M. Biart Biart . . Use of the Use of the isotope technique for the evaluation of the common bean isotope technique for the evaluation of the common bean - maize/ maize/ canavalia canavalia – common bean crop rotation. common bean crop rotation. In: In: Transactions of the 17 World Congress Transactions of the 17 World Congress of Soil Science. Bangkok. CD ROM. 2002. of Soil Science. Bangkok. CD ROM. 2002. • Mu Muñiz, O. Hacia un manejo integrado de la nutrici iz, O. Hacia un manejo integrado de la nutrici ón de los cultivos: el n de los cultivos: el caso cubano. caso cubano. En: En: Proceedings Proceedings del del XVI Congreso Latinoamericano de la XVI Congreso Latinoamericano de la Ciencia del Suelo. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia Ciencia del Suelo. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia . CD ROM. . CD ROM. 2004 2004. Acknowledgment Acknowledgment The The author author thanks thanks the the Soil Science Soil Science Society Society of of America America for for supporting supporting his his participation participation in 2005 SSSA in 2005 SSSA Annual Annual Meeting. Meeting. . BIOFERTILIZERS BIOFERTILIZERS in use in use on on Cuban Cuban Agriculture Agriculture RHIZOBIUM RHIZOBIUM Common beans, cowpeas and Common beans, cowpeas and peanut peanut 60% of N fertilizer 60% of N fertilizer BRADYRHIZOBIUM BRADYRHIZOBIUM Soya beans and pasture Soya beans and pasture legumes legumes 80% of N fertilizer 80% of N fertilizer AZOTOBACTER AZOTOBACTER Vegetables, roots, tubers and Vegetables, roots, tubers and rice rice 25 % of N fertilizer 25 % of N fertilizer AZOSPIRILLUM AZOSPIRILLUM Rice. Rice. 25% of N fertilizer 25% of N fertilizer PHOSPHOBACTERIAS PHOSPHOBACTERIAS Vegetables, tubers, roots, Vegetables, tubers, roots, grains, rice and coffee. grains, rice and coffee. 50 50 - 100% of P fertilizer 100% of P fertilizer BIOFERTILIZER BIOFERTILIZER CROPS CROPS SUBSTITUTES SUBSTITUTES MICORRIZA VA MICORRIZA VA Vegetables, roots, tubers, Vegetables, roots, tubers, grains, rice and coffee. grains, rice and coffee. 100% of P fertilizer and 30% 100% of P fertilizer and 30% of N and K fertilizer of N and K fertilizer Source Source : : adaptaded Adaptaded from from Mart Martí nez Viera nez Viera and and Hern Hernández, 1995). ndez, 1995). Table Table. Response of . Response of irrigated irrigated rice (Var. J rice (Var. J- 104) 104) to to the the applications applications of urea of urea mixed mixed with with zeolite zeolite on on a a Plinthustult Plinthustult soil soil from from Los Palacios, Pinar del R Los Palacios, Pinar del Rí o o province province , Cuba. , Cuba. Treatment Yield (t ha -1 ) N ( kg ha -1 ) % of zeolite 153 0 5.47 c 153 15 5.99 ab 153 30 6.17 a 118 0 5.12 c 118 15 6.00 ab 118 30 6.15 a ES 0.057 * Note: 153 kg ha -1 is the optimum N dose. Basic P 2 O 5 y K 2 O were also applied in all treatments . Source: Muñiz and Beltrán (1997) cited by Muñiz (2004) Table . Use of Vermicompost in different crops. Table . Use of Vermicompost in different crops. Potato Rhodic Ferralsol 5 25 - 50% Tobacco Ferric Luvisol . 4 65% phosphoric and potasic Banana . Cambisol 10 50% Tomato Rhodic Ferralsol 4 25 - 50% Garlic Fluvisol 4 100% (nitrogen) Onion Cambisol. 4 50 - 75% Pepper .Rhodic Ferralsol 4 25% Crop Soil Rate (tha -1 ) Chemical fert. requirement substituted (%) Sweet potato Rhodic Ferralsol 4 25% Source: Gandarilla et al. (1995) cited b y Muñiz (2004). Fertigation Fertigation : : introduction introduction of of electrical electrical irrigation irrigation systems systems that that allow allow a more a more efficient efficient use of soluble use of soluble fertilizers fertilizers. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, agricultural production in Cuba was characterized by wide use of external inputs: chemical fertilizers, pesticides, mechanization and fuel . As a result: % of % of the the Agricultural Agricultural Area Area Salinity Erosion Erosion High High compaction compaction Low Low O.M. O.M. content content 15 % 44 % 24 % 70 % 15 % 44 % 24 % 70 % Due Due to to the the economical economical downturn downturn affecting affecting Cuba in Cuba in 1990 1990 when when European European Socialist Socialist Countries Countries dissapeared dissapeared the use of chemical fertilizers (and other inputs) has the use of chemical fertilizers (and other inputs) has sharply decreased to 20 sharply decreased to 20- 25% from the consumption 25% from the consumption levels observed in the 1980s. levels observed in the 1980s. First years, this decline negatively affected First years, this decline negatively affected agricultural productivity but it provided Cuban scientists agricultural productivity but it provided Cuban scientists with an unique opportunity to play a protagonist role in the with an unique opportunity to play a protagonist role in the search for more effective and efficient ways of using search for more effective and efficient ways of using traditional agricultural inputs as well as other national traditional agricultural inputs as well as other national alternative sources. alternative sources. The combination of lower levels of inputs and other alternatives sources together with the introduction of new forms of production , allow TODAY Cuban farmers to obtain higher yields than those from the 1980s and 1990s and preserve soil. PRESENT PAPER SUMMARIZES PRESENT PAPER SUMMARIZES MANY OF THE RESULTS MANY OF THE RESULTS OBTAINED WITH THIS AIM. OBTAINED WITH THIS AIM. Table. Chemical characteristics of natural Table. Chemical characteristics of natural zeolite zeolite from two from two cuban cuban deposits deposits . Jaruco Tasajera SiO 2 % 57.44 68.62 Al 2 O 3 % 13.52 12.17 Ca 2+ cmol + Kg -1 63.48 67.14 Mg 2+ cmol + Kg -1 9.08 9.09 K + cmol + Kg -1 1.54 6.02 Na + cmol + Kg -1 15.68 18.09 CEC CEC cmol + Kg -1 122.77 172.70 Chemical composition Locality VERMICOMPOST VERMICOMPOST or or CASTING, CASTING, because because of of its its properties properties (C/N (C/N relation relation near near to to 10) 10) results results the the best best quality quality organic organic fertilizer fertilizer. Its Its a a product product obtained obtained from from different different organic organic substrates substrates ( cattle cattle manures manures , cachaza, , cachaza, crop crop residues residues , etc ) , etc ) and and worms worms ( Red ( Red Californian Californian or or Red Red Africans Africans ) ) action action. 1986 1986 Cuba Cuba applied applied twice twice of of Chemical Chemical Fertilizers Fertilizers than than USA USA per per ha of ha of agricultural agricultural area area 1986 1986 Yields Yields obtained obtained in in Cuba Cuba were were lower lower than than in USA in USA
