Effect of Canavalia ensiformis (L.) on physical properties of differentiated Fluvisol soil in Santiago de Cuba

Abstract

Soil is one of the most important natural resources for life. Food production depends on a percentage of use of this resource, which is continuously degraded as result of an incorrect handling and exploitation.Canavalia ensiformis is among the plants most used as green manure. In order to evaluate the effect of different ways of this legume on the fertility of a differentiated Fluvisol soil, the research was carried out at (UBPC, basic unit of cooperative production) at Huerto Santiago 2, at Santiago de Cuba municipality. The experiment was planted in June 2014 and 2015 with a planting distance of 0,75 m between rows and 0,25 m between plants. A design of blocks was used at random, with four treatments and four replicas: an absolute control that represented the natural fertility of the soil; a treatment where the canavalia was established until 80 days, was cut and left the biomass on the ground; another where the canavalia at 80 days was cut and incorporated the biomass to the soil; and other where the legume remained standing on the ground. The apparent density, porosity and soil hygroscopic moisture were analyzed as well as the quality through the visual evaluation method. The results evidenced a positive effect of the different treatments in the physical evaluated properties and the quality of the ground, being superior when the green fertilizer was incorporated to the soil or it was incorporated permanently.