EDAFOLOGÍA, VOL 14. (1, 2, 3), PP 1-8 2007


NIVEL DE FERTILIDAD DE LOS SUELOS DE LA COMARCA DE TIERRA DE BARROS (EXTREMADURA, ESPAÑA).

J. P. Almendro, A. López-Piñeiro, A. García, D. Cabrera, J. M. R. Nunes1


Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Avda de Elvas S/N 06071 Badajoz, España – E-mail: [email protected] 1Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, Escola Superior Agraria de Elvas, Apartado 250, 7350 Elvas, Portugals


Abstract

The knowledge of the levels and distribution of nutrient and other properties that define the soil fertility, should be considered as basic principle to obtain a sustainable agriculture that can assure the future of their productive capacity, by means of the maintenance of the quality and avoiding their deterioration. The objective of this work is to diagnose the level of fertility and possible limitations of the soils of the most representative area of “Tierra de Barros” Badajoz, (Spain). In order to obtain the proposed objective it has been proceeded to a systematic sampling and analysis of 496 samples of arable layer that have allowed the elaboration of maps of space distribution of nutrient and more excellent properties. The results show that the organic matter content in the whole study area can be classified as very low with values that they don’t overcome 1,25%. The levels of essential nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) are also low in most of the study area. It becomes necessary the application of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments that, in occasions, they should be superior to 80 Mg/ha to recover the fertility level of considered soils and to avoid their continuous deterioration.