Mr William Andrés Cardona, AGROSAVIA, Colombia. Global Symposium on Soil Erosion (GSER19), 15 - 17 May 2019 at FAO HQ.

1. Conservation practices to reduce soil erosion in
hillsides cultivated with plantain (Musa AAB)
Cardona, W. A.; Silva-Arero, E.; Bolaños-Benavides, M. M.; García-Zapata, D.
Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research
AGROSAVIA
1

2. 2
Introduction
45,379,058 ha (40%) of the surface of Colombia: soil
degradation due to erosion
(IDEAM and UDCA, 2015).
Soils of Colombia: diverse and fragile
58.11%: Entisols and Inceptisols.
28.79%: Ultisols and Oxisols.
7.5%: Mollisols and Andisols.
http://www.siac.gov.co/erosion
Reality of
agriculture in
Colombia

3. 3
Introduction
Malamoud et al. (2009)
Among the soil practices proposed to reduce
erosion, tracing furrows with level curves is employed
(FHIA, 2011).
Planting live coverage such as intercropping with
plantains (Ruiz and Molina, 2014).
Crop rotation, management of crop residues and the
type of crop used: to promote changes in the most
sensitive OM constituent fractions.
To validate with farmers, soil conservation practices in
hillsides planted with plantain.

4. Municipality of Viotá:
4°26'30.62" N and 74°28'11.32" W,
1,225 m.a.s.l., 25°C, 1,473 mm of
annual precipitation and 80% RH.
4
Methodology
Municipality of La Vega:
5º2'14.00" N and 74º18'2.60" W,
1,699 m.a.s.l., 20.1°C and 735
mm of annual precipitation.
Two plots cultivated with plantain were established
in the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia)
In both plots
Reference controls were established (T0),
practices used by farmers, to be contrasting with
the conservation practices (T1).

5. 5
Methodology - Conservation practices
Establishment of the crop with
level curves and triangle planting.
Application of organic matter:
2 kg/plant was applicated in planting,
six and 12 months after planting.
Use of biofertilizers:
20 g of AMF/site (>230
spores g-1 of the
genera Glomus,
Acaulospora,
Scutellospora, and
Entrophospora).
Plant cover management and conservation
plan: Phaseolus vulgaris and Zea mays.

6. 6
Methodology
Runoff plots. The evaluation was carried out in a
period of three months in treatments 0 and 1.
Both treatments had an area of 2,010 m2 and a
slope of 55%. After heavy precipitation occurred
(> 12.5 mm), sampling was carried out.
Microbiological soil activity.
100 g/soil were taken at field
capacity at a depth of 20 cm per
sample in three different plots.
Anderson (1982).
Fallow (left); T1, conservation practice (middle) and T0,
traditional management (right)
Physical parameters:
Bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, moisture retention,
stability index (SI), mean weighted (MWD) and geometric
diameter (MGD), and fine (FA) and extreme aggregates (EA).

7. 7
Results and Discussion
2256
1863
930
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
MSA(μgC-CO2g-1)
Fallow
Conservation
practice
Traditional
management
The MSA results in fallow: five years without
intervention, presence of Eisenia foetida that
accelerates the decomposition of organic waste,
improving physical properties of the soil
(Zapata et al., 2016).
In La Vega plot where bean was
sowed (legume associated with
Rhizobium spp.), MSA increased in
contrast with the traditional
management that showed a
decrease in MSA: the superficial soil
layers were exposed to the adverse
climatic conditions because they do
not have any type of coverage,
tending to show nutrient loss
processes due to washing and/or
some type of water erosion

8. 8
Results and Discussion
 Higher average soil loss in T0 (120 kg ha-1)
compared to T1 (40 kg ha-1): positive
effect of soil conservation practices on the
decrease of soil loss by runoff.
 Higher colonization percentage of AMF in T1
29.3% vs T0 5%: colonized roots increased their
capacity to absorb certain mineral nutrients
(specifically, P). The colonization produces
physical, biochemical and physiological changes
in the colonized roots that lead to a better
general state of the plant
(Barea et al., 1997)

9. 9
Results and Discussion
 Higher bulk density was found in the
soil of T0 (1.11 g cm-3) in comparation
with T1 (0.64 g cm-3) and therefore,
less movement of the subsurface
water of the soil (T0= 2,05 vs T1= 18,7
cm h-1), considered moderate if it is
compared with the rapid mobility of
water in treatment 1.
Parameter T1 T0
Stabilization index (SI) 90.31 55.89
Fine aggregates (FA) 33.61 18.81
Extreme aggregates (EA) 52.55 64.14
Mean weighed diameter (MWD) 1.32 1.91
Mean geometric diameter (MGD) 0.73 1.32
Mesopores 8.90 7.50
Micropores 30.80 39.60
 Physical properties showed favorable
values in T1 in comparation with T0 in
aggregated stability, porous space and
hydraulic conductivity; these results
agree with Lozano et al. (2010): these
practices improve moisture retention
capacity in the root zone.

10. 10
Conclusions
Soil conservation practices in hillsides cultivated with plantain allowed
reducing soil erosion by 300%, increasing its microbial activity,
improving its physical properties - K, and allowing better aeration of
the root system.
Acknowledgements
This research was carried out with funding from SGR, CTel Secretariat of
Cundinamarca, SDDE of Bogotá D.C., under Special Cooperation Agreement
Derivative 2. Agroindustrial Technological Corridor.