Year 2017, Volume 2, Issue 3
| Year : | 2017 |
| Volume : | 2 |
| Issue : | 3 |
| Authors : | Vilda M. ARBORNO, José Luis ZAMAR, Liliana PIETRARELLI, Héctor L. LEGUÍA, Juan V. SANCHEZ, Nicolás PIGNATARO, Ignacio SPECIA, Hugo VACARELLO, Facundo MONGUZZI |
| Title : | STUDY OF THE AGROECOLOGICAL TRANSITION IN EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE SEMIARID REGION OF CÓRDOBA, ARGENTINA |
| Abstract : | Extensive agriculture in the semi-arid region of Córdoba, Argentina, generated an intense degradation of the biophysical environment, a decrease in ecosystem self-regulation mechanisms, a considerable reduction of agrodiversity and the loss of associated environmental services. The physical-biological responses of different agroecological practices were evaluated for ten years in permanent macroplots located in three agricultural systems in order to study the transition towards more sustainable systems, which can be extrapolated to the rural area of central Córdoba. This process generated local information compatible with the farmers’ technology. The results showed that winter cover crops allowed good weed control. Although they affected the soil water content, they did not produce significant differences in summer crop yields and they increased the level of surface organic carbon, thus mitigating the edaphic densification processes caused by no till farming in the medium term. Crop rotation contributed with more organic carbon to the system. Open-pollinated maize varieties produced a good yield of grains and biomass, even in years of marked water deficits, showing their adaptation to semi-arid conditions and their good plasticity. Fertilization with vermicompost in reduced doses increased grain yields and biomass production. The integrated management of these practices improved the balance and biological interdependencies that favoured biotic regulation between phytophagous and predatory arthropod populations as well as the regulation of spring weed populations. |
| For citation : | Arborno, V. M., Zamar, J. L., Pietrarelli, L., Leguía, H. L., Sanchez, J. V., Pignataro, N., Specia, I., Vacarello, H., Monguzzi, F. (2017). Study of the agroecological transition in extensive agriculture in the semiarid region of Córdoba, Argentina. AGROFOR International Journal, Volume 2. Issue No. 3. pp. 53-60. DOI: 10.7251/AGRENG1703053A |
| Keywords : | permanent macroplots, agroecological practices, semi-arid environment, extensive crops |
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ISSN 2490-3434 (Printed)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
ISSN 2490-3442 (Online)
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