Abstract

MIDDELANIS, Thomas. El biocarbón aplicado al suelo retiene agua y nutrientes en los valles interandinos del Departamento de Cochabamba, Bolivia. RevActaNova. [online]. 2019, vol.9, n.3, pp.429-449. ISSN 1683-0789.

The agriculture of the temperate valleys in the Bolivian Andes faces severe challenges concerning actual soil conditions and climate alterations in the future. These oblige adjustments in the use of the basic resources water and soil plus adaptations of the agricultural practice in general. The present study examines whether the incorporation of biochar into soils is able to meliorate the local soil quality and prevent degradation processes. Soil humidity, total nitrogen content and basic soil parameters were chosen as indicators for possible effects of the proposed treatment. The measurements took place between March and July of 2019 in an agroforestry parcel, which was implemented for the scientific purpose of this study in the research centre Mollesnejta in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The biochar treatments were divided into two groups of each 10 replications. Group 1 had a dosage of 25.8 kg biochar per m3, while the amendment of group 2 was the double, 51.6 kg m^-3. In comparison to the control group both showed positive effects due to the biochar amendments on soil conditioris: Biochar increased soil pH, potential cation exchange capacity, soil moisture and total nitrogen content. The effect on the last-mentioned parameter was significant (p < 0.05) and in the case of the biochar effect on soil water content highly significant (p < 0.001). The results showed clearly positive effects of biochar on soil physical and chemical conditions. They were discussed and mainly explained by the structural properties of biochar, such as its high porosity and particular surface chemistry.

Keywords : biocarbón; manejo de suelo; agricultura; agroforestería; valles interandinos; sequía.

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