Revista de Investigación Agraria y Ambiental

13-26

Authors: Lucia Fabila Martínez, Salvador Adame Martínez & Rodolfo Serrato Cuevas

This study was developed out of the need to provide products and services intended for the field that meet the nutritional needs of plants without implicating environmental damage by means of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. The study assessed the fertilizer effect of two diatomaceous earth and a liquid fertilizer to corroborate empirical evidence of several producers who used a commercial product based on the study`s materials and achieved higher levels of performance in different crops. A sample of the experimental area was carried out before establishing the crop after its completion. Two commercial diatomaceous earth identified as 289 and 400 P produced by International Celite, were assessed at two concentrations 20 kg ha-1 and 40 kg ha-1 and 18 kg ha-1 and 36 kg ha-1 respectively, and a organic liquid fertilizer (FOL) at doses of 2 L ha-1 and 4 L ha-1 was considered as control soil sample taken before the application of treatments. The experimental design used in the field for the application of the treatments was randomized complete block (DBA) with 5 repetitions. The test plant was the corn hybrid HC8. The variables evaluated in the soil throudgh laboratory analysis were: physical properties of texture and bulk density (BD), and chemical pH, organic carbon (OC), organic matter (OM), electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CIC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na). The results were analyzed under a ANOVA and Tukey test for comparison of means for treatment, using the JMP statistical package. Laboratory results indicated that there were changes in the chemical characteristics of the soil between the control and treatments in the majority of the chemical characteristics analyzed (pH, CO, MO, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na). However statistically and under a statistical significance of 5%, differences were only observed in the properties of CO, MO, CE, N, K and Na.

37-42

Authors: Oscar Emerson Zúñiga Mosquera & Antonio Pereira Da Silva Neto

This research was conducted by seeking scientific information from the agronomy field, the revision of public policy documents for biodiesel production and, especially, the Biodiesel Development Poles Program. On-site visits were made in the municipalities of the valley of alto Pajeú, where the program is being conducted. The research considers the importance of raw materials and a territorial approach, in addition to examining the site as a basic unit for public policy.

55-65

Authors: Álvaro Vicente Araujo Guerra, Lina María Monsalve Castro & Andrés Luciano Quintero Tovar

This paper attempts to conceptualize the potential for some organic wastes to be used as energy sources. For example, whey produced by the dairy industry, which creates a serious environmental problem due to its effect on the physical and chemical structure of soils causing a decrease in crops yield and when disposed in water, reduces aquatic life by exhausting dissolved oxygen. Therefore, it is necessary to search for alternatives to lessen the impact caused by this type of agro-industrial waste. Such alternatives should also take advantage of the organic waste as an energy source that selected microorganisms can synthesize organic compounds within and subsequently obtain the microbial masses that constitute a major food source of high protein value. This alternative provides potential solutions to major issues such as human hunger, the lack of protein sources for animal feed and on the other hand, a reduction in environmental pollution.

97-116

Authors: Manuel Francisco Polanco Puerta & Mario Augusto García

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius Poep. Z & Endl) H. Robinson is an Asteraceae native to the Andean region. It is a plant used by antiquated cultures as a refreshing fruit or low calorie food. Its roots are composed mostly of water (85-90%). 40 to 70% of its dry weight comes in the form of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), sugars with favorable effects on human health, and with a high antioxidant power, which is why it is considered medicinal; for the treatment of problems associated with diabetes. The high demand and price of the product in the domestic and international markets make this species a profitable option for farmers in the Eje Cafetero (Colombian Coffee)ecoregion, which has ideal agro-ecological conditions for its cultivation. However, there is neither precise information on the materials present in the region nor information on its productivity, making it difficult to propose the appropiate agronomic management to optimize its production. This research was conducted in five provinces of the Eje Cafetero ecoregion, collecting and morphologically characterizing the species. Subsequent morphoagronomic evaluations were performed using 18 quantitative descriptors, and eight qualitative ones, in addition to the molecular characterization with the RAMs technique using six initiators. The morphoagronomic characterization classified the ten collected biotypes into three groups. Molecular characterization distinguished four groups, which are closely related to the grouping according to the qualitative characteristics found. The paper concludes that the accessions of group one are the most appropriate for the production of tubers, those of group two for dualpurpose production and those of group three, for leaf production. The multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) indicates that within the germplasm there are important characters that can be used towards the selection of potential parents with desirable quality traits for breeders, farmers and consumers.

135-147

Authors: Fernando de Jesús Álvarez Ramírez, Guillermo Castaño Arcila, José Ferney Montes Moreno & Francis Liliana Valencia Trujillo

This paper investigates the conditions of the possibility that have contributed to the emergence of rural Agroecology schools and the Farmer Training Center in the municipality of Tulua, Valle del Cauca. Methodologically, it fits within the framework of the Historical Logical Cultural in three stages: the first related to the ECAS as Sustainable Human Rural Development which emphasizes the recovery of popular and ancient knowledge that facilitates an autonomous exercise, the second, a community strategy for the management and conservation of natural resources through the consolidation of an exercise related with the offices of the members of the ECAS and the third stage being based on the consolidation of work plans centered on sustainable endogenous development and the pursuit of well-being. It was found that the ECAS and Farmer Training Center are expressions of social construction where people interact through intracultural interscientific and transdisciplinary dialogue, stressing upon the seed savers as one of the offices within the ECAS that has a special significance especially now that we are witnessing a dictatorship under the aegis of transnational seed companies. The paper concludes that the ECAS and Farmer Training Center are the spaces par excellence where the exchange of knowledge and experiences materialize, with special reference to the seed savers and the importance of their work.

13-19

Authors: Luis Felipe Orozco, Katherin Castro-Ríos & Gonzalo Taborda Ocampo

Coffee pulp and mucilage are semi-liquid by-products involved in the generation of residual waters with a high concentration of organic matter and diverse species of microorganisms which negatively affect the efficiency of traditional treatment and require up to five months for total decontamination of these waters. This demands the testing of different treatment methods that can improve the efficiency of traditional processes. Electrocoagulation was tested with Fe/Al electrodes, 2.3 A and natural pH in a reduction in chemical oxygen demand and other microorganisms present in the coffee mucilage. The electrochemical process produced a maximum removal of 93% for coliform bacteria, molds and yeasts with a treatment time of 50 min. The reduction in chemical oxygen demand was 32% for the undiluted sample, 45% for the sample diluted to 50% (v/v), and 51% for sample diluted to 25% (v/v); indicating there is an increase in efficiency with a decrease in organic matter. The energy consumption was less than 0.083 kWh/m3 for the samples analyzed. This method is a viable alternative for the pre-treatment or reutilization of waters contaminated with coffee mucilage.

31-40

Authors: Carlos Iván Cardozo Conde & César Augusto Posada Tique

Ricinus communis L., commonly known as the castor- oil plant, is important for its use in biofuels production. With the objective of learning about its current status, in 40 villages influential to the oil complex of Caricare (municipality of Arauquita) and Caño Limón (municipality of Arauca) in Arauca, Colombia (where five years earlier the crop had been established), a collection of sexual seed was carried out between December 2011 and January 2012. The variables studied include passport data as a collection resource, local name, relief, and soil type among others. A Garmin map76CSx was used in order to identify the transects and record data such as geographic location and elevation. Simple descriptive statistics were used to identify the variables of greatest variation. Using the qualitative variables of greatest importance, a contingency table analysis with a significance level of 5%, a multiple correspondence analysis(MCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed for quantitative and qualitative variables, in addition to a classification analysis through a similarity matrix. The castor-oil plant was found in 25% of the villages visited. 12 introductions were collected, four from Caricare and eight from Caño Limón. Although the environmental conditions were favorable for its cultivation, there are no castor-oil plant crops in the locations visited. The absence of grain commercialization and oil extraction equipment is the main limiting factor. A garden was established using collected materials for the purpose of research, breeding and propagation.

49-64

Authors: Carmen Mireya Lapo Pauta & Rafael Pérez García

This paper presents research completed with the intention of finding the most economical solution in the design of pressurized irrigation networks, while efficiently meet service delivery. A systematic methodology is proposed that combines two optimization techniques through a “hybrid method” in, which linear programming, nonlinear programming and genetic algorithms are fused. The overall formulations of the problem of optimal dimensioning consist of minimizing an objective function constituted through the asociated cost of the pipes that form the network. This methodology was implemented in three networks a fictitious irrigation and two irrigation networks (Tuncarta and Cariyacu) located in the cities of Loja and Chimborazo which yielded optimal design solutions. Finally different scenarios were simulated in both models to obtain an overview of the operation of the hydraulic variables

81-88

Authors: René Aguilar Anccota, Raquel Briggit García Raymundo, José Antonio Dulanto Bejarano & Edgar Abraham Maldonado Duque

The department of Piura is the principal banana-producing zone in Peru, sharing 87% of exportations.In this zone, one of the most important postharvest diseases is crown rot. The economic loses attributed to this disease are estimated to be between 25 and 30% of organic bananas exported. The objective of this study was to identify the causal agents associated with this disease. Samples taken refrigerated fruit from the areas of Querecotillo, Salitral and Mallares were taken and selected after the fact. Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum musae and Fusarium verticilloides. In order to demonstrate the pathogenicity of the isolated species, inoculations were given in the area of the crown of the fruit on healthy bananas. These fungi caused symptoms of infection in different proportions, concluding that crown rot is a disease with a complex etiology.

101-111

Authors: Walter Alfredo Salas-Zapata & Leonardo Alberto Ríos-Osorio

The transition toward sustainability is the set of changes and decisions a group of people make in order to resolve problems of sustainability. To address these problems a scientific trend has emerged called sustainability science, which has been considered to be a science inspired by the use of knowledge and must have characteristics such as transdisciplinarity, participation, social learning, coproduction of knowledge, as well as consider multiple perspectives and scales of problems and the uncertainty inherent to them. However, scientific research plays a particularly important role in the decision making processes. The chances of success greatly increase when permits interaction and communication between researchers and decision makers, or other actor. This paper analyzes how the characteristics in question contribute to the promotion of changes toward sustainability

13-25

Authors: Sonia Esperanza Aguirre Forero, Nelson Virgilio Piraneque Gambasica y Juan Carlos Menjivar Flores

Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) disease is the greatest limiting factor affecting banana crop production across the world. The pathogen´s severity has reached epidemic levels and is exacerbated by the cultivation of monocultures and genetically uniform clones. In Colombia,losses occur in the exporting regions of Uraba and Magdalena, where its management depends on the use of agrochemicals, without achieving eradication. In the search for methods to reduce the pathogen’s effect within the banana zone of the departamento del Magdalena, Colombia, the relationship between climate, soil properties, and the presence of the disease was determined. Were utilized data from geographic informational systems, digitalized the data from the soil variables reported in the soil study conducted by IGAC (2009), records from weather stations in the region, and data showing the incidence rate of the pathogen. As a result of the study were established three areas (high, medium and low incidence rate) and discovered a positive correlation between the incidence rate of the disease with precipitation (r = 0.56), interchangeable magnesium, Mg+2 (r = 0.45), microporosity (r = 0.40), clay content (r = 0.54), and evaporation (r = 0.51). Were observed that there are soil conditions that influence the presence of the disease, variables that should be kept in mind in the management of banana cultivation.

37-48

Authors: María Alejandra Trujillo Toro y Juan Fernando Ramírez Quirama

This study analyzes bioremediation processes of hydrocarbon contaminated soils in Colombia as a sustainable alternative to the deterioration of environmental quality by hydrocarbon spillage. According to national and international environmental law, all waste contaminated with hydrocarbons is considered dangerous waste, and therefore it cannot be released in the ground, water or be incinerated. Such legislation has motivated companies around the world to implement treatment processes for contaminated soils. Within Colombia, oil companies have been implementing the bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated soils in order to manage the waste coming from activities of oil drilling, refinement, transport and distribution.These practices must be considered viable for their ease of implementation, their low overhead costs, and for the benefits they provide towards environmental quality. Among the positive impacts that these practices have generated, it may consider the following: a solution for the problem of hydrocarbon contaminated soils, alternatives for the ultimate disposal of said waste without affecting ground, water or air resources, the low cost of the operation, and the technical experience of sustainable development which can continue to be implemented in companies dealing with dangerous waste.

63-71

Authors: Alejandra Plata Pinzón, Sandra Milena Ramírez y Campo Elías Riaño

Goat milk whey is a byproduct of low economic value, and is perceived within Colombia as industrial waste with a negative environmental impact on ecosystems (BOD and COD of 60,000 ppm and 80,000 ppm respectively). Therefore this paper seeks to characterize this whey, and evaluate the effectiveness of the Lactobacillus Helveticus (LH) strain from 0 to 0.91 for the production of lactic acid from whey goat milk enriched with three nutrients. The variables studied follow a Greco-Latin model. To this effect, 16 kinetics were conducted in an intermittent bio-fermenter containing 250 milliliters of goat milk whey wherein the highest production of lactic acid, 17.72 grams per liter, is achieved after 50 hours for a medium containing 2.5% yeast, 0.6% riboflavin, 0.45% ammonium sulfate, and the bio-fermenter operating at 42 ° C. The study concludes that apart from producing lactic acid, LH is an alternative towards avoiding contamination of ecosystems in as much as it would generate an added value to the cheese industry.

85-97

Authors: José Alejandro Cleves Leguízamo, Javier Orlando Orduz Rodríguez y Jorge Armando Fonseca Carreño

Agricultural technology has significantly increased production by relying on monocultures. Conventional practices are reaching the limits of unsustainable agriculture, characterized by high pollution rates, natural resource degradation, overuse of agrochemicals, materials and energy; all towards low or no profitability. Therefore the production process has to be reoriented by implementing an agroecological approach more closely linked to the environment and more socially sensitive, and which promotes the design of sustainable agroecosystems with an integrative vision. The aim of this paper is show the results of research conducted between 1994 and 2012, concerning the systematics of citrus production under tropical conditions, specifically in the foothills of Meta Department in Colombia. As a result of this review, missing elements were identified which serve as a basis future research projects towards the establishment and development of sustainable and agroecological units.

109-121

Authors: José Manuel Alba Maldonado, y Andrea Carolina García Cabana

The following article is the product of a master`s thesis in Rural Development, entitled “Post-rural development. A pedagogical proposal for the recovery of memory in the municipality of Toca-Boyacá”. The article is divided into three parts: the first focuses on describing the problem and the objective, and is centered on a critique of development while arguing for post-development as a viable route, based on the collective memory of a pedagogical proposal. The second part is a brief description of the methodology of the study, placing it in a historical hermeneutic focus using an ethnographic method that recovers the collective memory of the municipality, and participatory action research relating to students of the Instituto Técnico Agrícola de Toca. Furthermore, this part includes a literary review on the concept of post-development. The last part presents the results, divided into two sections, the first showing, the fruit of ethnographic investigation, the recovery of memory, discovery of historically and culturally important sites, and folktales among others. The second part presents the work of the students, their transformation into the role of researchers and their encounter with memory, all framed in the post-development process foundation

15-23

Authors: Thomas May, Sesar Rodríguez

Se estudiaron la flora melífera y su floración en la zona del bosque seco subtropical de la Línea Noroeste, de República Dominicana. Se aplicó una encuesta a 30 apicultores locales, así como 4 entrevistas semiestructuradas, sobre plantas de importancia para la actividad apícola. Se calificaron las plantas según su importancia; mediante observación, se confirmaron en campo las visitas de las abejas a las especies observadas y se consultó información secundaria sobre fechas de floración y características melíferas, información secundaria, y se aplicó el índice de Jaccard para determinar el grado de similitud entre el conjunto de las plantas mencionadas por los apicultores y las observadas en el campo. La coincidencia, relativamente buena, entre las plantas identificadas por los apicultores y las plantas en las que se observaron visitas de abejas en el campo confirma la validez del método. La mayoría de las plantas identificadas como melíferas son silvestres y pertenecen a la vegetación del bosque seco. Hay un período de floración abundante de marzo a junio y un período de escasez de septiembre a diciembre. Se recomienda la conservación de áreas significativas de bosque seco y de manglares en las áreas costeras, así como el establecimiento de cercas vivas y otros sistemas agroforestales en el paisaje agrícola, que tengan en cuenta especies arbóreasrelevantes para la apicultura, con floración complementaria.

41-46

Authors: Óscar Eduardo Sanclemente Reyes, Carlos Omar Patiño Torres y Liliana Rocío Beltrán Acevedo

In a Typic Haplustalfs (USDA) soil of the municipality of Palmira – Valle (Colombia) the rotation system velvet bean Mucuna pruriens Var. Utilis – maize Zea mays L. was established in design of complete blocks at random with seven treatments and three repetitions. The treatments in the rotation were: T1 (Without M. pruriens and fertilizing), T2 (green manure of M. pruriens without fertilizing), T3 (mulching of M. pruriens without fertilizing) T4 (green manure of M. pruriens more compostado organic manure), T5 (green manure of M. pruriens more fertilizer of chemical synthesis), T6 (green manure of M. pruriens plus complemented compostado organic manure with fertilizer of chemical synthesis), T7 (mulching of M. pruriens plus complemented compostado organic manure with fertilizer of chemical synthesis). The energy balance was characterized and contributes nutritional using software Energy 3.01., from the entrances energetics in each treatment. The greater efficiency was obtained energetics in the T2 with 114.1 Mj.Mj-1 that was significantly greater (p<0.05) to the other treatments. The T5 where fertilization of chemical synthesis was used obtained value of 19.1 Mj.Mj-1, reflecting high entrances energetics and low productivity. The majors contribute nutritional were obtained in T3, T4, T6 and T7. Nevertheless, the treatments T3 and T4 stand out respectively where it was used mulching and green manure of M. pruriens more compost; since they are treatments where more efficient use becomes of the power resources by the use of consumptions readily accessible for the producer, being able to generate benefits like feeding for almost 50 persons.ha-1.year-1. These results suggest this valuable alternative association as for use in familiar agriculture farmer.

53-62

Authors: Luz Elena Santacoloma Varón y Jairo Enrique Granados

Samples were collected from 2 forage plants (leaf stalk) of the species Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia in different soil conditions (departments of Valle del Cauca and Cesar) and evaluated for total polyphenol content, total tannins, condensed tannins and Saponinas. The purpose was to detect the effect of the conditions of electrical conductivity on the concentration of these secondary fitobiomoléculas metabolized by the plant cell. We applied analytical techniques and instrumental AOAC (2005) to determine the presence of such fitometabolitos side. The results obtained for each variable were subjected to analysis of variance two-way, in order to determine statistical differences between areas sampled and evaluated species. Additionally, we performed a multiple correlation analysis using the Pearson coefficient, in order to detect any correlation between electrical conductivity and the content of secondary metabolites quantified in the species sampled. It was concluded that the content of total polyphenols, total tannins, condensed tannins and saponins did not show statistically significant differences between the three areas sampled, and there was high correlation between the value of the electrical conductivity of soil and content of secondary metabolites

67-76

Authors: Julián Leal Villamil y Luis Alfredo Lozano Botache

Based on the methodology of potential soil fragility, described by Alarcón and Gayoso (1999), the evaluation and spatial distribution of the potential fragility for erosion and landslides, was carried out in the soils of the municipality of Ibagué. Edaphic variables were taken from units of soils according to two systems of classification: Comité de Cafeteros de Colombia (1973) and IGAC (2004). Environmental variables of precipitation and altimetry were obtained from the hydrographic basin ordination and management plan of the Coello and Torare rivers (CORTOLIMA, 2006) and the forestry planning project for the Department of Tolima(Universidad del Tolima and CORTOLIMA, 2007). According to the numerical information organized in maps and the mathematical models established for the nomograms of the base methodology, the rates of potential fragility of the two phenomena of soil degradation were determined. The results show that with the soil classification system IGAC, the municipality of Ibagué is more sensitive to phenomena of landslides rather than to erosion, opposed to what is shown in the system of the Comité de Cafeteros de Colombia. Both systems coincide in stating that the zones with higher propensity to these phenomena are located mainly near the Combeima Canyon, in the mountainous area near the municipality of Cajamarca, as well as the hills and mountains that surround the urban area.

85-88

Authors: Óscar Emerson Zúñiga M.

In recent decades, the list of concerns which accompanies human existence has donned a new item: the effects lifestyles are having on the ecosystem due mainly to the fact that the changes introduced are of such magnitude that not only is a kind of tropical frog or a tiger that inhabits floodplain systems at risk. There is a pressure factor submittingmillions of human beings located in the most diverse, but at the same time most fragile, ecosystems to a high degree of vulnerability. This moral concern extends to the fields of politics and epistemology where, from the perspective of ecological economics, the relevance of existing indicators for development drawn from neoclassical economics is being questioned, as an expression of a deeper discussion of the relationship of society-nature.

13-19

Authors: Óscar Eduardo Sanclemente Reyes, Mauricio García Arboleda

The rate of decomposition of sugar cane leaves mixed with an organic fertilizer compost type was evaluated, using a finite accelerator (molasses) and an infinity accelerator (effective microorganisms). The trial was conducted in the greenhouse facilities of the National University of Colombia in Palmira. The results showed that molasses is a decomposition accelerator of the wastes of sugar cane leaf, since it shows a marked influence on the initial decomposition rate of the waste, but once the carbohydrates that constitute it are consumed, the rate of decomposition decreases significantly. Then the potential is evident on the waste of sugar cane leaf elements for the maintenance and/or biophysical capital improvement in the productive system of the sugar cane, as the result of their high photosynthetic efficiency.

33-42

Authors: Lina Marcela Ramírez Estrada, Jean Deivi Suárez Córdoba, Juan Fernando Ramírez Quirama

The Malvaviscus arboreus, Heliocarpus popayanensis and Hylocereus undatus have been reported by river residents as natural flocculants. Waters were investigated in La Salada creek (in the municipality of Caldas, Colombia) to see if the effects are modified by the flocculant species (Malvaviscus arboreus, Heliocarpus popayanensis and Hylocereus undatus), the type of vegetal material (dry or fresh) and the concentration of organic flocculant (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 ml). JAR methodology was used, following the standard ASTM No. D2035-80. It was found that Heliocarpus popayanensis and Hylocereus undatus presented a flocculation power (P value: 0.017), that increasing the concentration of flocculent it increased the flocculation (P value: 0.08) and the storage did not alter the effects of species over the process of flocculation (P value: 0.7813).

51-63

Authors: Camilo Ernesto Seija Flórez

The urban and suburban animal production in tropical countries is a valid strategy to improve human nutrition, family consumption, income generation, savings and living conditions. Through case studies experiences of breeding animal pigs, aquaculture, dairy, poultry, rabbits and bees) were reviewed in some cities around the world to help in solving problems of food supply in urban and suburban areas. It should highlight the constraints (political, legal, health and environmental) and intervention strategies to find solutions to problems. It was concluded that the positive experiences from around the world can introduce considerations of sustainability in urban and suburban animal breeding.

77-87

Authors: Luz Elena Santacoloma Varón

A comparative analysis was performed on two fruit-farming organizations agro-ecologically and conventionally oriented and established its affinity with fair trade principles. A survey was done on fruit production, marketing systems and opportunities to sell "fair price" products. It was found that both groups are small farmers, agro-ecological producers offer a variety of fruit, because of not using chemicals the consumers recognize the quality by an extra charge, they sell their products in farmer markets and generate direct relationships with consumers.Conventional producers offer only Lulo (Solanum quitoense), chemicals are used, the indicator of quality is recognized by the size and presentation of the fruit and marketing is done in supermarkets. We conclude that agro-ecological producers would be close to a way of fair trade, provided that incorporate quality improvement programs, and use the product information and communication technologies for development of cooperation networks and identification of market niches. It is important to support public or private access to credit, infrastructure and market information to help in decision making improvement.

97-103

Authors: Andrea Carolina García Cabana, José Manuel Alba Maldonado

Transformations in the Eco region of Sogamoso (Colombia) were diagnosed as a result of the municipal development policies focused on the urban and industrial development. These changes have manifested themselves in the diminishment of the native forest coverage and the presence of strategic ecosystems and environmental service providers to the Eco region which consists of Nobsa, Mongui, Iza, Firavitoba, Aquitania, Cuitiva and Sogamoso. The diagnosis showed that this town is far from being an integrator agent, and that its relations with the rural areas are merely central-urban ones.