Local indicators of plant and soil diversity in agroecosystems of Guacarí, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

A preliminary evaluation of plant diversity and soil quality in different agroecosystems was
carried out in the village of Santa Rosa de Tapias, municipality of Guacarí, Colombia, through
indicators sensitive to changes. This research was designed under participatory action research
principles. Eight coffee farms were characterized according to the agroecological approach
and five were selected with this management in different states of progress and one in the
process of reconversion. This characterization was carried out with information provided by
farmers through field visits, semi-structured interviews, dialogue of knowledge and participant
observation. Also, meetings were held with producers to carry out social cartography and
theoretical-practical workshops. For the preliminary evaluation of plant diversity, an inventory
of plant species was carried out and local soil indicators were used to assess soil quality and
supplemented with physical-chemical analysis. The analysis of attributes for the characterization
of agroecosystems showed that the differences between these are marked by the plant
diversity and type of soil management, especially fertilization, management of weeds, soil cover,
presence of organic matter and conservation practices. Differences that are transferred to
the economic, social and productive level of the agricultural systems studied. From the physical characteristics evaluated, the apparent density and the index of stability of aggregates presented
values lower than 1.1g/cm3 and 0.1 respectively, indicating the instability of these soils and
the need to maintain them under permanent vegetal cover.