TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACH: THE CUBAN CASE
OLEGARIO MUÑIZ UGARTESoils Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Havana, Cuba. E-mail: [email protected]
TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACH: THE CUBAN CASE
OLEGARIO MUÑIZ UGARTESoils Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Havana, Cuba. E-mail: [email protected]
SummarySummaryThroughout 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 organic 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 useof 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 unique 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 manures, 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 yields 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 the 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 th e O rg a n ic P ro d u c tio nfra m e w o rk , C u b a h a s
d e v e lo p e d a s tro n gm o v e m e n t:
U R B A N A G R I C U L T U R Eb a s e d o n 3 p r in c ip le s :
• u s e o f o rg a n ic m a n u re s a n db io lo g ic a l p e s t c o n tro l.
• ra tio n a l u s e o f lo c a l re s o u rc e s .
• d ire c t c o m m e rc ia liz a tio n o f p ro d u c ts fro m p ro d u c e rs toc o n s u m e r s .
In In th eth e O rg a n icO rg a n ic P ro d u c t io nP ro d u c tio nfra m e w o rkfra m e w o rk , C u b a h a s , C u b a h a s
d e v e lo p e dd eve lop ed a a s tro n gs tro n gm o vem en tm o v e m e n t ::
U R B A N A G R I C U L T U R EU R B A N A G R I C U L T U R Eb a s e db a s e d o no n 3 3 p r in c ip le sp r in c ip le s ::
•• u s e o f u s e o f o rg a n ico rg a n ic m a n u re sm a n u re s a n da n db io lo g ic a lb io lo g ic a l p e s tp e s t c o n tro l.c o n tro l.
•• ra tio n a lra tio n a l u s e o f lo c a l u s e o f lo c a l r e s o u rc e sr e s o u rc e s ..
•• d ire c td ire c t c o m m e rc ia liz a tio nc o m m e rc ia liz a tio n o f o f p ro d u c tsp ro d u c ts fro mfro m p ro d u c e rsp ro d u c e rs totoc o n s u m e rsc o n s u m e rs ..
C a n a v a liaM u c u n a
G R E E N G R E E N M A N U R E SM A N U R E S
S e s b a n iaS e s b a n iaro s tra taro s tra ta
ORGANIC MANURES:ORGANIC MANURES:
nn CattleCattle andand otherother animalsanimals manuresmanures..nn Cachaza (Cachaza (sugarsugar industryindustry residuesresidues).).nn Compost ( Compost ( includingincluding organicorganic manuresmanures
mixedmixed withwith ZeoliteZeolite))nn Vermicompost.Vermicompost.nn OrganicOrganic manuresmanures mixedmixed withwith littlelittle
quantitiesquantities of of chemicalchemical fertilizersfertilizers..
CHEMICAL FERTILIZERSCHEMICAL FERTILIZERSLimitedLimited quantitiesquantities are are usedused butbut newnew innovativeinnovativeformsforms andand methodsmethods werewere developeddeveloped toto increaseincreasetheirtheir efficiencyefficiency. . ThusThus::
•• FertigationFertigation
•• FolialFolial sprayspray
•• Natural Natural ZeoliteZeolite ((ClinoptiloliteClinoptilolite, a mineral , a mineral withwith veryvery highhigh CEC CEC thatthat allowsallows toto increaseincreaseN N fertilizersfertilizers efficiencyefficiency).).
•• CubanCuban rock rock phosphatesphosphates ((acidulatedacidulated withwithsulfuricsulfuric acidacid) )
BIOFERTILIZERS.BIOFERTILIZERS.Cuba Cuba possessespossesses a complete a complete systemsystem forfor producingproducingandand commercializingcommercializing::
nn RhizobiumRhizobiumnn BradyrhizobiumBradyrhizobiumnn AzotobacterAzotobacternn AzospirillumAzospirillumnn PhosphobacteriasPhosphobacteriasnn MicorrizaMicorriza VAVA
ArtisanArtisan productionproduction of of RhizobiumRhizobium
DuringDuring 2004, 2004, 96,400 ha96,400 ha of different crops economically of different crops economically benefited from the use of benefited from the use of BiofertilizersBiofertilizers..
A SUSTAINABLEA SUSTAINABLEAPPROACHAPPROACH
ChemicalChemical OrganicOrganic GreenGreen
FertilizersFertilizers ManuresManures ManuresManures
INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT INTEGRATED CROP NUTRITION MANAGEMENT APPROACHAPPROACH
CropCrop ResiduesResidues BiofertilizersBiofertilizers
ForFor CubanCuban conditionsconditions in particular (in particular (andand LatinLatin AmericaAmerica in in general), general), sustainablesustainable agricultureagriculture isis possiblepossible onlyonly by by thethe
diversificationdiversification of of thethe productionproduction andand thethe use of use of allall SourcesSources::AnAn exampleexample isis thethe
COMMON BEAN COMMON BEAN -- MAIZE / CANAVALIAMAIZE / CANAVALIA--COMMON BEANCOMMON BEAN
cropcrop rotationrotation developeddeveloped andand validatedvalidated in in EutrostoxEutrostox soil of soil of HavanaHavana provinceprovince withwith thethe use of:use of:
nn MinimumMinimum tillagetillage..nn LittleLittle quantitiesquantities of N of N
fertilizerfertilizer..nn RhizobiumRhizobium biofertilizerbiofertilizer ..nn CubanCuban rock rock phosphatephosphate..nn RecyclingRecycling cropscrops residuesresidues..nn GreenGreen manuremanure ((CanavaliaCanavalia).).
SourceSource: Mu: Muññiz 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.
CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS SelectedSelected ReferencesReferences
•• MartMartíínez Viera, R. y G. Hernnez Viera, R. y G. Hernáández. Los ndez. Los biofertilizantesbiofertilizantes en la agricultura en la agricultura cubana. cubana. En:En: ResResúúmenes del III Encuentro de Nacional de Agricultura menes del III Encuentro de Nacional de Agricultura OrgOrgáánica. La Habana. 1995. nica. La Habana. 1995.
•• MartMartíínez, F., B. Calero, R. Nogales, y L. nez, F., B. Calero, R. Nogales, y L. RovestiRovesti. . LombriculturaLombricultura. Manual . Manual PrPrááctico. La Habana. 2003. 120p.ctico. La Habana. 2003. 120p.
•• MuMuññiz, O., G. Dueiz, O., G. Dueññas; L. Gas; L. Góómez; C. A. Alfonso; M. mez; C. A. Alfonso; M. BiartBiart. . Use of the Use of the isotope technique for the evaluation of the common beanisotope technique for the evaluation of the common bean--maize/maize/canavaliacanavalia–– 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.
•• MuMuññiz, O. Hacia un manejo integrado de la nutriciiz, O. Hacia un manejo integrado de la nutrici óón de los cultivos: el n de los cultivos: el caso cubano. caso cubano. En:En: ProceedingsProceedings del del XVI Congreso Latinoamericano de la XVI Congreso Latinoamericano de la Ciencia del Suelo. Cartagena de Indias, ColombiaCiencia del Suelo. Cartagena de Indias, Colombia . CD ROM. . CD ROM. 20042004..
AcknowledgmentAcknowledgmentTheThe authorauthor thanksthanks thethe Soil Science Soil Science SocietySociety of of AmericaAmerica forfor supportingsupportinghishis participationparticipation in 2005 SSSA in 2005 SSSA AnnualAnnual Meeting.Meeting.
. BIOFERTILIZERSBIOFERTILIZERS in use in use onon CubanCuban AgricultureAgriculture
RHIZOBIUMRHIZOBIUM Common beans, cowpeas and Common beans, cowpeas and peanutpeanut
60% of N fertilizer60% of N fertilizer
BRADYRHIZOBIUMBRADYRHIZOBIUM Soya beans and pasture Soya beans and pasture legumeslegumes
80% of N fertilizer80% of N fertilizer
AZOTOBACTERAZOTOBACTER Vegetables, roots, tubers and Vegetables, roots, tubers and ricerice
25 % of N fertilizer25 % of N fertilizer
AZOSPIRILLUMAZOSPIRILLUM Rice.Rice. 25% of N fertilizer25% of N fertilizer
PHOSPHOBACTERIASPHOSPHOBACTERIAS Vegetables, tubers, roots, Vegetables, tubers, roots, grains, rice and coffee.grains, rice and coffee.
50 50 -- 100% of P fertilizer100% of P fertilizer
BIOFERTILIZERBIOFERTILIZER CROPSCROPS SUBSTITUTESSUBSTITUTES
MICORRIZA VAMICORRIZA 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 fertilizerof N and K fertilizer
SourceSource: : adaptadedAdaptaded from from MartMartíínez Viera nez Viera andand HernHernáández, 1995).ndez, 1995).
TableTable. Response of . Response of irrigatedirrigated rice (Var. Jrice (Var. J--104) 104) toto thethe applicationsapplicationsof urea of urea mixedmixed withwith zeolitezeolite onon a a PlinthustultPlinthustult soilsoilfromfrom Los Palacios, Pinar del RLos Palacios, Pinar del Ríío o provinceprovince, 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 P2O5 y K2O were alsoapplied 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 RhodicFerralsol
5 25 - 50%
Tobacco Ferric Luvisol .
4 65% phosphoric and potasic
Banana . Cambisol 10 50%
Tomato RhodicFerralsol
4 25 - 50%
Garlic Fluvisol 4 100% (nitrogen)
Onion Cambisol. 4 50 - 75%
Pepper .RhodicFerralsol
4 25%
Crop Soil Rate(tha-1)
Chemical fert. requirement substituted (%)
Sweet potato
RhodicFerralsol
4 25%
Source: Gandarilla et al. (1995) cited b y Muñiz (2004).
FertigationFertigation: : introductionintroduction of of electricalelectrical irrigationirrigationsystemssystems thatthat allowallow a more a more efficientefficient use of soluble use of soluble fertilizersfertilizers..
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 thethe AgriculturalAgricultural AreaArea
Salinity ErosionErosion HighHighcompactioncompaction
LowLow O.M. O.M. contentcontent
15 % 44 % 24 % 70 %15 % 44 % 24 % 70 %
DueDue toto thethe economicaleconomical downturndownturn affectingaffecting Cuba in Cuba in 1990 1990 whenwhen EuropeanEuropean SocialistSocialist CountriesCountries dissapeareddissapearedthe use of chemical fertilizers (and other inputs) has the use of chemical fertilizers (and other inputs) has sharply decreased to 20sharply 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 scientistsagricultural 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 sourcestogether with the introduction of new
forms of production, allow TODAY Cuban farmers to obtain higher yieldsthan 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 zeolitezeolite from two from two cubancuban depositsdeposits ..
Jaruco Tasajera
SiO2 % 57.44 68.62
Al2O3 % 13.52 12.17
Ca2+ cmol+Kg-1 63.48 67.14
Mg2+ cmol+Kg-1 9.08 9.09
K+ cmol+Kg-1 1.54 6.02
Na+ cmol+Kg-1 15.68 18.09
CECCEC cmol+Kg-1 122.77 172.70
Chemical composition Locality
VERMICOMPOST VERMICOMPOST oror CASTING, CASTING, becausebecause of of itsitspropertiesproperties (C/N (C/N relationrelation nearnear toto 10) 10) resultsresults thethe best best
qualityquality organicorganic fertilizerfertilizer..
ItsIts a a productproductobtainedobtained fromfrom
differentdifferent organicorganicsubstratessubstrates ((cattlecattle
manuresmanures, cachaza, , cachaza, cropcrop residuesresidues, etc ) , etc )
andand wormsworms ( Red ( Red CalifornianCalifornian oror Red Red AfricansAfricans) ) actionaction..
19861986
CubaCuba appliedapplied twicetwiceof of ChemicalChemical FertilizersFertilizers
thanthan USA USA perper ha of ha of agriculturalagricultural areaarea
19861986
YieldsYields obtainedobtained in in Cuba Cuba werewere lowerlower
thanthan in USAin USA
