Efecto de leguminosas en las propiedades físicas de un suelo inceptisol en la granja santa inés

Abstract

The study examined the effects of legumes (Canavalia, Zarandaja, Alfalfa, and Vigna) on an Inceptisol soil, focusing on bulk density, porosity, and volumetric moisture content. It was conducted at Granja Santa Inés, Ecuador, using a Latin square design 5x5 and methods such as the cylinder method and TDR. Canavalia stood out for increasing the soil's volumetric moisture content (average of 37, 15% in December), which was related to a lower bulk density (1,496 g/cm³) and a moderate increase in porosity (21,406%). Zarandaja, on the other hand, increased porosity (30.958%) but did not significantly reduce bulk density (1,552 g/cm³), indicating limited effectiveness in improving soil structure. The soil temperature did not vary significantly between treatments. These results highlight the importance of choosing appropriate legumes to improve soil properties, adapting to specific management needs and environmental conditions.