Abstract

ZANOR, Gabriela Ana et al. Physical and chemical properties improvement of an agricultural soil mixed with vermicompost from two biodigestor effluents. Ing. invest. y tecnol. [online]. 2018, vol.19, n.4, e036. ISSN 2594-0732.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fi.25940732e.2018.19n4.036.

In the state of Guanajuato there is a need to develop biofertilizers to improve the soil quality, which are affected by nutrient degradation. For this, it is important to evaluate different organic fertilizers, that are made of wastes from primary economic activities in Guanajuato. The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of nutrient-poor soils after applying two vermicomposts produced from biodigestor efluents. A completely randomized experimental design was used to set up the experiments; having two vermicompost treatments, both at 4 t ha-1 dose: 1) vermicompost from bovine-manure effluent (LBE) and 2) vermicompost from vegetable-fruit effluent (LBH), to obtain soils named SLE and SLH, respectively. The soil and vermicompost properties were analyzed, including: moisture, textural class, apparent density, real density, total porosity, pH, organic matter, total N, C/N ratio and dehydrogenase enzyme activity. The results indicated that after LBE and LBH treatments, SLE and SLH increased the organic matter content by 47% and 90%, and N by 100% and 300%, respectively. The C/N ratios decreased from 33 (control T) to 20 (SLE) and 13 (SLH). The SLH achieved a higher enzymatic activity than the SLE (168.54 and 105.17 μg TFF g-1, respectively). These results suggest that LBH might be a biofertilizer with a greater decomposition potential and soil rapid mineralization than LBE, and likewise LBH would stimulate the soil´s biochemical reactions. LBE could also gradually release the nutrients, because of the greater recalcitrant character of manure components (mainly lignin). These amendments offer alternatives to waste management and control from different primary activities in Guanajuato, and they would provide biofertilizers to be used in sustainable agriculture.

Keywords : Fertility; organic fertilizers; physical properties; chemical properties; enzymatic activity; degradation.

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