Improvement of the soil fertility of a volcanic indurate layer (Tepetate) by applying acid treated biosolids
Volcanic indurate matter produces low soil fertility when rises to the surface, reducing the agricultural potential of the land and distressing marginal zones that live from agriculture. The habilitation of these materials using biosolids has not been explored, although the problem exists in several countries around the world. This work evaluated the impact of the application of biosolids on the fertility of a fragmented volcanic indurate layer (Tepetate). Tepetate’s fertility was measured before and after biosolids application with three biosolids application rates: agronomic rate (AR), as well as 10 and 20xAR. Biosolids were mixed with Tepetate and kept in pots under green house conditions along with a control, during four months. One set of pots with and without vegetative species. Organic matter content increased between 180 and 470% compared to the control. Cation exchange capacity (21.8 to 42.3 Cmol+kg-) resulted adequate for keeping nutrients for plants. pH values were adequate for agricultural activities (5.9-7.2). Dry color of the Tepetate, becomes darker (grayish brown; 10YR 5/2) than the initial yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) because of the addition of stable organic matter from biosolids. Considering edaphologic characteristics it is suitable to habilitate volcanic indurate layer by the application of biosolids.
LAND DEGRADATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD: ISSUES AND POLICY OPTIONS FOR 2020
Land degradation takes a number of forms, including depletion of soil nutrients, salinization, agrochemical pollution, soil erosion, vegetative degradation as a result of overgrazing, and the cutting of forests for farmland. All of these types of degradation cause a decline in the productive capacity of the land, reducing potential yields. Farmers may need to use more inputs such as fertilizer or manure in order to maintain yields, or they may temporarily or permanently abandon some plots. Degradation may also induce farmers to convert land to lower-value uses. For example, farmers may plant cassava, which demands few nutrients, instead of maize, or convert cropland to grazing land.
Remotely-Piloted Helicopter Citrus Yield Map Estimation
A remotely-piloted Gas Xcell mini-helicopter with GPS, wireless Ethernet, and a machinevision system was flown over orange trees to take overhead images. The individual tree images were processed to estimate the number of orange pixels in the images. The fruit yield of individualtrees at harvest a month later had an r-squared value of 0.373 with the number of orange pixels onthe irrigated tree images. While it was demonstrated that a remotely-piloted mini-helicopter could beused to acquire useful overhead images of citrus trees, substantial further research is needed toimprove the accuracy of estimates of individual tree yields or health.