Abstract

SIVILA DE CARY, R.  and  HERVE, D.. Effects of native legumes from fallow land on soil microbiota during potato crop in central Bolivian Altiplano. Ecología en Bolivia [online]. 2006, vol.41, n.3, pp.154-166. ISSN 1605-2528.

In the Bolivian Altiplano, peasants manage for subsistence long fallow cropping systems in poor soils with climatic risks. Natural nitrogen fixation during fallowing may be a low cost solution to improve the yield of potato, which is head of rotation and basis of local diet. After ploughing this vegetation into soil, and in low fertility environments, soil microbiological component may play a key function in nitrogen cycling. During the agriculture cycle 1999-2000, in a five-yearsfallowing plot, ploughed to crop potato, we have compared two natural vegetation covers, grass and native legumes (Lupinus otto-buchtienii, Trifolium amabile, Astragalus micranthellus). The article compares the change of soil microbiota population between the ploughing, sowing and harvesting times of potato crop (Solanum tuberosum var. gendarme). The evaluated components of soil microbiota are firstly microbial biomass and NMP of total microbiota population, and secondly bacteria, fungi, actynomycetes, and mycorrhiza spores. During potato cultivation soil cover, plant height, and final production (tuber weight, number of tubers per plant, above-ground biomass) were evaluated. The incorporation of native legumes to soil contributes to the microbial soil component and duplicates the potato production. Both the sprending conditions of native legumes in fallow land, and soil microbiological component, should be more investigated.

Keywords : Fallow; Native legumes; Soil microbiota; Potato; Bolivian Altiplano.

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