Abstract

TORRES GUERRERO, Carlos Alberto; GUTIERREZ CASTORENA, Ma. Del Carmen; ORTIZ SOLORIO, Carlos Alberto  and  GUTIERREZ CASTORENA, Edgar Vladimir. Agricultural management of Vertisols in Mexico: a review. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2016, vol.34, n.4, pp.457-466. ISSN 2395-8030.

Vertisols cover 8.3% of our territory and are considered the most productive soils; nevertheless, agronomic research management has been carried out in experimental field or only in some parts of the country. In consequence, the transfer of technology, not only internationally, but also nationally, is limited. Several efforts have been made to generate information on these soils since 1985, especially in the Mexican highlands and the coastal Gulf of Mexico where they occur dominantly; however, they are also common in other parts of Mexico where the information is deficient. The aim of this research was to conduct a literature review about agronomic management of Vertisols and changes in their physical and chemical properties. The analysis indicates that Vertisols present management problems in four main areas: a) mechanization; b) compaction, c) drainage, d) fertilization. Despite its complexity, the characterizations of their soil properties have only been performed with some physical or chemical determinations. Knowing soil formation processes can help generate agronomic practices suitable for Vertisoles in each agro-climatic zone and reduce the problems of physical degradation (compaction) and chemical (fertility decline) that occur in our country.

Keywords : soil properties; fertilization; tillage; physical and chemical degradation.

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