Progress 09/01/13 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and the general public who wished to improve their knowledge of agricultural practices to enhance the quality of the soil. Audiences were reached through personal communications, informal presentations, seminars and abstracts in scientific discussions and the agroecological project WebPage of our research group (agroecologico.eea.uprm.edu). The findings directly impacted at least four graduate students through the use of the scientific method implemented in this project (two of them were already graduated by the end of this project), and they work on a private informal teaching farm for improving public knowledge of soil health through the use of compost and effective microorganisms. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided the opportunity to train 80 persons interested in agroecology during the year (2017). The agroecological practices were part of courses offered at El Josco Bravo Farm, an agroecological project in Puerto Rico. The information gathered allowed training for more than 250 persons during informal workshops over the past years. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to communities through presentations and seminars. Also, two former-graduate students use information gathered in this project to spread agroecological practices in informal courses. In addition, the WebPage "Agroecologico" is a convenient tool for dissemination of project results. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project, conducted at the Corozal and Juana Diaz Agricultural Experiment Substations and Mayaguez Research Center, intends to prove the effect of the combined use of compost, effective microorganisms (EM) and cover crops on soil health. The use of compost, cover crops, and EM had profound effects on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM), pH, soil enzymatic activities and humic acids concentration. We observed enhanced decomposition of SOM on the highly eroded Corozal soil, which had an original SOM of less than 0.6%. However, the results have shown that when the original SOM is higher than 0.6%,the application of EM, compost and cover crops decelerates organic matter decomposition and increases the rate of humic acid formation. The highly eroded soil used in this study with an organic carbon content between 0.6 and 1.3% improved its agronomic properties (quality) by the augmentation of SOM, improving the soil enzymatic activities and soil resilience. The yields of cash crops were dependent on the restorative practice implemented. In Juana Diaz, the soil was a Mollisol of high fertility (San Anton series). The implemented practices improved the soil health and agricultural yields of the cash crops. Similar findings observed in the low fertility Oxisol from Mayaguez plots demonstrate that these practices are good for soils of different orders.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Pag�n-Roig, I. C., J. A. Chong, J. A. Dumas and C. Est�vez de Jensen, 2016a. Combined organic amendment effects on eggplant yield, soil fertility characteristics and humic acid quality. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. 100(2): 99-120.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Pag�n-Roig, I. C., J. A. Chong, J. A. Dumas and C. Est�vez, 2016b. Repeated short-term organic amendments effects on physical and biological properties of a San Ant�n soil. J. Agric. Univ. P.R. 100(2): 121-138.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Dumas, J.A., Chong, J., Gonzalez, A. 2016. Biological Effects of Cover Crops on an Oxisol (SOPCA), Corozal, Puerto Rico.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Zayas, W. and Dumas, J.A. 2016. Evaluation of Ecological practices on soil Quality Parameters of an Oxisol (SOPCA), Corozal, Puerto Rico.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Zayas, W. and Dumas, J.A. 2014. Biological fertilizers effects on oxisol soil (SOPCA), Rincon, Puerto Rico
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project were scientists, agronomists, students, and the general public who wished improve their knowledge in agricultural practices to enhance the quality of the soil. The audiences were reached through personal communications, informal presentations, seminars and abstracts in scientific discussions and the agroecological project Web-Page of our research group(agroecologico.eea.uprm.edu). At least three graduate students have been directly impacted by the findings and scientific methodology implemented on this project (two graduated and one MS candidate). Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Project has provided the opportunity of training 80 peopleinterested in agroecology during the year (2017). The trainingwas part of various agroecological courses offered atEl Josco Bravo Farm, an agroecological project in Puerto Rico. This projects presents the opportunity to train additional people next year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to communities through presentations and seminars. Also, two former-graduate students have use information gathered in this project to spread agroecological practices on informal courses. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are planning to prepare and submit at least one research paper for publication, evaluate the effect of hurricane Maria in the soil health after soil conservation practices implementation, and assess acash crop (tanier) yield on each experimental plot.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project has been conducted at Corozal Agricultural Experiment Station. Application of compost, cover crops, and EM had profound effects on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM), pH, soil enzymatic activities and humic acids concentration. Decomposition of SOM on the highly eroded Corozal soil, which had an original SOM less than 0.6 % was accelerated. However, the results have shown that when the original SOM is higher than 0.6% the application of EM, compost and cover crops has the effect of decelerating organic matter decomposition, and increase the rate of humic acid formation. The highly eroded soil used on this study with an organic carbon content between 0.6 and 1.3 % improved its agronomic properties (quality) by the augmentation of SOM, improving the soil enzymatic activities and soil resilience.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Chong, J.A. and J.A. Dumas. 2017. Chemical and physical changes on compost amended tropical soils. J. Agric. Univ. P.R.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are scientists, agronomists and students who wished to improve their knowledge in agricultural practices to improve soil quality. The audience was reached through personal communications, informal presentations, seminars and abstracts in scientific communications. At least three graduate students have been directly impacted by the findings and scientific methodology implemented on this project (one MS candidate, and two PhD candidates). In addition, a web page that will be posted soon have been prepared which includes a tool to count the number of visitors to the page. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three presentations in the Southern Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference: A Healthy Soil the Key for a Healthy Environment held at Rincón, Puerto Rico on June 20-23, 2016. One presentation in the Puerto Rican Agricultural Sciences Society Scientific Meeting held at Corozal, Puerto Rico on November 18, 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results were disseminated to communities through four presentations, two seminars held in 2016 SOPCA at Corozal Convention Center -November,2016 and three abstracts published on 2016 Southern Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The main goal of this project is to develop soil management practices that improve the quality of degraded soils. The experiment will be continue this year with a sowing of a cash crop. These practices must increase the number of acres of degraded soils recovered for agricultural uses. Also, it is expected that growers in the central mountain region of Puerto Rico implement these practices in order to decrease use of agrochemicals and improve the soil quality in their farms. A Web Page will be activated for a better dissemination of project findings.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project has been conducted at Corozal Agricultural Experiment Station. Application of compost, cover crops and EM had profound effects on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM), pH, soil enzymatic activities and humic acids concentration. Decomposition of SOM on the highly eroded Corozal soil, which had an original SOM less than 0.6 % was accelerated. However, the results shown that when the original SOM is higher than 0.6% the application of EM, compost and cover crops has the effect of decelerate organic matter decomposition, and increase the rate of humic acid formation. The highly eroded soil used on this study with a organic carbon content between 0.6 and 1.3 % improved its agronomic properties (quality) by the augmentation of SOM, improving the soil enzymatic activities and soil resilience.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Zayas, W. and J.A. Dumas. 2016. Effects of applications of indigenous
microorganisms on an Oxisol. 2016 Southern Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/partnership/ncss/?cid=nr
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Zayas, W. and J.A. Dumas. 2016. Evaluation of Ecological Practices in the Agricultural Quality of an Oxisol. 2016 Puerto Rican Agricultural Sciences Society Annual Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Dumas, J.A., J.A. Chong, A. Gonzalez, E. Lizardi and E. Rodriguez. 2016.
Metabiontic Effect of Cover Crops. 2016 Puerto Rican Agricultural Sciences
Society Annual Meeting.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Dumas, J.A., J. Chong, A. Gonzalez and E. Rodriguez. 2016. Effect of cover crops and effective microorganisms on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic composition of humic acids in an Ultisol. 2016 Southern Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference.https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail /soils/survey/partnership/ncss/?cid=nr
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Dumas, J., E. Rodriguez, E. Lizardi and M. Lopez. 2016. Effects of cover crops and EM-1 on recalcitrant organic carbon (ROC), redox potential and oxyreductase activity on an Ultisol. 2016 Southern Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/partnership/ncss/?cid=nr
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project were scientists, agronomists and students interested in increasing their knowledge of agricultural practices to improve soil quality. The audiences were reached through personal communication, informal presentations, and abstracts in a scientific meeting. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?SOIL HEALTH, COVER CROPS AND WEEDS MANAGEMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN AREA WORKSHOP. August 26, 2015 Agricultural Experiment Station at Juana Díaz. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities through four presentations, one of them in a scientific forum (SOPCA - November, 2015); seminars to elementary school students, teachers and undergraduate college students as part of an educative project to promote agriculture with a scientific basis (April-2015); and two workshops organized by NRCS (June and August, 2015), one to NRCS and AES personnel and organic growers for promoting agricultural practices to improve soil health, and another to NRCS personnel for promoting cover crops and enzymatic indicators to monitor soil health. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The main goal of this project is to develop soil management practices that improve the quality of degraded soils. The experiment will be continued this year, and we will increase the number of cycles by three in order to better achieve augmentation of organic matter and/or soil enzymes activity. These practices must increase the number of acres of degraded soils recovered for agricultural uses. It is also expected that growers in the central mountain region of Puerto Rico implement these practices to decrease use of agrochemicals and improve the soil quality on their farms.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
During the first two years, this project was conducted at the Corozal Agricultural Experiment Station. Application of compost, cover crops and efficient microorganisms (EM) had a profound effect on the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM), which also seems to depend on the original amount of SOM in the soil. Decomposition of SOM was accelerated in highly eroded soil with an original total organic matter of less than 0.6%; but when the original SOM was higher than 0.6%, the EM, compost and cover crops decelerated organic matter decomposition, increasing humic acid formation. The highly eroded soil used in this study, with a total organic carbon content between 0.6 and 1.3%, improved its quality by the augmentation of organic matter content, all of which induced an increase in DHA and glucosidase activity. Crop health assessment was conducted during the growing season. Disease incidence was evaluated as the number of plants with typical symptoms of soil borne pathogens increased. These included: wilting, chlorosis and stunting.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
W. Zayas and J.A. Dumas, 2015. Efficient microorganism effects on Oxisols. Puerto Rican Society of Agricultural Sciences, Annual Scientific Meeting Abstract.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this project were scientist, agronomist, growers and students, who wish improve their knowledge in agricultural practices to improve soil quality. The audiences were reached through a presentation in a professional scientific organization. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? A scientific presentation was made to disseminate part of the results and findings of this project. The presentation was on November 7 of 2014-Puerto Rican Agricultural Science Society. Also, a graduate student is been trained under this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Effective microorganisms will be applied on the cash crop planted to maintain and improve soil quality and to study effects of this practice on cash crop health and yield. Soil samples will be collected to study soil organic matter amount and quality. Also, soil samples will be evaluated for enzymatic activity and other major soil quality properties that are mentioned in the original project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The goal of this project is to improve the soil quality by increasing recalcitrant soil organic matter (RSOM) through an integrated soil management system which includes three practices of soil conservative (green manure amendments, compost, and effective microorganisms). We are quantifying and characterizing RSOM in weatherized soils as a function of conservative practices. Experimental trials were established in a weathered Oxisol soil at Corozal Agricultural Experiment Station and in an Oxisol at Mayaguez. The incorporation of a minimal amount of compost and biological fertilizers (effective microorganism) show significant benefits in the enzymatic activities and physical properties of both soils. Tanier (Xanthosoma spp.) was planted at Corozal to quantify the benefits in the improvements in soil quality properties on cash crop production.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Zayas, W. 2014. Effect of Biological Fertilizers on Oxisol soil and Vegetables yield. Jornada Cientifica de Seminarios Graduados-April 25, 2014. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Zayas, W. and Dumas, J.A. 2014. Biological fertilizers effects on oxisol soil. Memorias Reunion Cientifica Anual SOPCA 2014. Sociedad Puerorrique�a de Ciencias Agricolas, Hotel Rincon of the Seas, Rincon, Puerto Rico pp. 28.
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Progress 09/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience:
Nothing Reported
Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The experiment will be established in a Corozal clay series. Four soil management practices (SMP), consisting of amending the soil with (I-) compost, (II-) Effective microorganisms-compost (EM-compost), (III-) EM-bare soil and (IV-) bare soil, will be evaluated with four cover crop treatments (sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), sorghum+crotalaria and no cover crop). Effective microorganism will be applied by using a commercially available microbial inoculant (Teraganix EM-1® microbial inoculant) containing yeasts, fungi and bacterias.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project is new and this report only include one month.
Publications
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