Soil chemical fertility in dairy farms of the Guanacaste volcanic mountain range, Costa Rica

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the fertility of soils of dairy farms at four zones of the Guanacaste volcanic mountain range. The study was conducted during a two-year period (2009-2010) in farms of Guayabo (Bagaces) and Nubes, San Ramón and Florida (Quebrada Grande, Tilarán). A total of 40 soil samples were collected, each one was composed by 20 sub- samples. The results revealed that soil pH in Guayabo tended to be lower (p=0.0539) than in Nubes, San Ramón and Florida. Guayabo soils showed higher concentrations (p<0.01) of magnesium (Mg), cupper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) than the soils of the three zones of Tilarán. The soils of Guayabo and San Ramón showed higher values of effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) (p<0.01) than Nubes and Florida soils. According to the general critical levels for the extracting solution used, none of the soils of the analyzed zones reach a pH higher than 5.5, the Tilarán and Guayabo soils were deficient in Mg and P respectively and no zone was deficient in Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn. These results revealed that the soils of all the zones had some mineral deficiency and low values of pH, therefore fertilizers and amendments should be applied according to nutritional needs of each farm. Adequate soil nutrition could improve productivity of forage and allowed a higher animal charge capacity per unit of area.

Keywords

• Soil analysis
• fertility
• dairy farms
• grasses