Conventional agriculture and agro-ecological alternatives

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In this delivery, we will address the main elements of the urgent agricultural conversion, mainly content of interest Agroecological, through scientific reports, agricultural experiences, and technical details framed in the various agro-environmental policies that are implemented in eco-regions that have been affected by the production cycles used by conventional agriculture.


Introduction


Throughout history, societies seeking to satisfy the world's demand for food have encouraged the incorporation of agricultural technology packages that approve the use of chemical amendments (synthetic fertilizers) in order to cover the nutritional needs of crops.

Even when these technological packages of agricultural nature, within their specifications, establish the recommendations of the optimum doses that should be applied per item, and that they should be programmed according to the soil deficiencies that reflect the soil analysis of a determined area, it is not less certain that the agricultural producers, in order not to see their economic yields restricted, tend to incorporate high doses to their crops, which evidences an indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers that end up creating agro-environmental imbalances.

On the other hand, in addition to the agro-environmental imbalances generated by the exaggerated fertilization programs, the mechanization practices that are executed using heavy machinery in cultivated soils, is another reason for the disturbance of ecosystems. However, considering that conventional agriculture alters the biodiversity of the environment, the objective of the present post, is to socialize agro-ecological alternatives, in the search to contribute to environmental health.

Fig. 2 Use of heavy machinery / Agricultural tractor with mixing unit in Corn production unit Zea mays. Public domain image. Observation: The photograph was edited by the user @lupafilotaxia, by means of size adjustments and incorporation of texts.


Conventional Agriculture


It has been scientifically demonstrated that the traditional fertilization methods used in conventional agriculture cause salinity problems mainly due to the uncontrolled incorporation of electrolytes that end up affecting the fertility of the soils, and thus affecting the responses of the cultivated plant species.

Within the manifestations observed in the field, caused by the uncontrolled incorporation of electrolytes, there are the morphological deficiencies registered in the crops, which reveal the affectation on variables of vegetative growth in the vegetable species, among them; decrease of elongation and development of organs (root, leaves and stem), interruption of the biological extraction of nutrients, deterioration of the photosynthetic activity, limitation of the process of cellular respiration, aspects that directly affect the stages of flowering and fructification, linked to the productivity of the crops.

Fig. 3 Application of chemical fertilizer, using an agricultural tractor. Public domain image. Observation: The photograph was edited by the user @lupafilotaxia, by means of size adjustments and incorporation of texts.

Another element, of great concern in conventional agriculture, is related to the chemical trace values reported in harvested materials, responsible for the appearance of multiple diseases in humans, hence, new alternatives are considered within the agricultural sector, in order to produce healthy and nutritious food, through agro-ecological production schemes.


Agro-ecological alternatives


The design of agro-ecological alternatives, is to ensure that the application of bio-products based on organic materials (crop residues, leaf litter, manure, among others) produced in a craft or industrial scale, have the ability to increase crop yields, and simultaneously promote the biological activity of the soil, increase aeration, stabilize moisture retention, provide organic matter, and ensure the balanced phenological execution of the phases of growth, development and reproduction of plant species.

It has been demonstrated that the Bio-products are called; organic fertilizers, compost, vermicompost, humus, have the capacity to improve the conditions of the agricultural systems, essentially because, they contain high quantities of beneficial microorganisms, that when applied optimize the environment soil/plant, when contributing of positive form on the biogeochemical processes, and favoring the assimilation of the minerals in the subject vegetal species to culture.

Fi.g 4 Production of Bio-products, on an industrial scale. Public domain image. Observation: The photograph was edited by the user @lupafilotaxia, by means of size adjustments and incorporation of texts.

In addition to improving biogeochemical processes, the Bio-products show adaptability to crops, this because, they are organic materials that adopt the conditions induced by man, and create favorable environmental scenarios, where healthy crops are obtained (free of synthetic chemical traces) with the least disturbance to the environment.


Bio-products and vegetative development


The use of Bio-products in agriculture, in addition to improving the growth and vegetative development of organs that constitute the body of the specimens, can also act as bio-stimulants, bio-pesticides, bio-fungicides and bio-bactericides, as a result of the application of technological packages that incorporate additional biological sources, which serve as agricultural inputs for a multiassociated agro-ecological management, which counteracts the attack of pests and pathogenic microorganisms.

Effect of agricultural bio-products

The Bio-products, generally come directly or indirectly from animal or vegetable origin sources, therefore, they are an important sink of mineral elements in soluble state, humic substances, enzymatic and proteinic compounds, which have direct effects on the yield of the crops, and in parallel they improve the physical-chemical and microbiological properties of the edaphic layer that can be used for the agricultural activity.

Fig. 5 Application of Bio-products, type compost in agricultural production area. Public domain image. Observation: The photograph was edited by the user @lupafilotaxia, by means of size adjustments and incorporation of texts.

SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS PUBLICATION


  • The elements raised in the post, need information about the technical contrast that is discussed around the agricultural reconversion, which seeks to raise agro-ecological alternatives to the visible environmental problems caused by conventional agriculture, highlighting; the soil effects caused by traditional methods of fertilization and its impact on variables of vegetative growth in cultivated plant species, in addition to describing the capacity that have the Bio-products in the multiassociated agro-ecological management and its favorable effect on agricultural systems.


BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES CONSULTED AND CITED:


[1] Restrepo J., Angel D., y Prager M. Agroecología. Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal, Inc. CEDAF. 2000; 120. Article: Online access

[2] Ramos L., Arozarena D., Reyna G., Telo C., Ramírez P., Lescaille A., Martín A. Hongos Micorrízicos Arbusculares, Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megatherium y FitoMas-E: una alternativa eficaz para la reducción del consumo de fertilizantes minerales en Psidium guajava, L. var. Enana Roja cubana. Cultivos Tropicales. 2013;34;1: 5-10. Article: Online access

[3] Márquez C., Rios P., Moreno A., and Figueroa U. Effect of organic fertilization on yield and nutrient content of saladette tomato in greenhouse. Información técnica económica agrarian. 2014; 110; 1: 3 – 17. Article: Online access

[4] Feller C., Blanchart E., Bernouxa B., and Manlayc R. Soil fertility concepts over the past two centuries: the importance attributed to soil organic matter in developed and developing countries. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. 2012; 58; 1: 3 – 21. Article: Online access

[5] Liu X., Herbert S., Hashemi A., Zhang Z., and Ding G. Effects of agricultural management on soil organic matter and carbon transformation – a review. Plant Soil Environ. 2006; 52; 12: 531 – 543. Article: Online access


ATTENTION

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OBSERVATION

The cover image was designed by the author: @lupafilotaxia, incorporating the background image of Skeeze, 2015 .





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8 comments
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If you wish to read more scientific articles in English or Spanish, of excellent academic quality, do not hesitate to visit #STEMSocial and #STEM-espanol, communities that promote scientific content mainly in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

Happy to know this

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Greetings @nathanmars, it is difficult to find in HIVE communities that support STEM content, that is why, since my entry to the platform I was pleased to find #STEMSocial and #STEM-Spanish communities that support academic content. Thanks for visiting the blog.

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Buenos días.
Sería interesante determinar que impacto ha tenido la destrucción de la industria petroquímica venezolana y su consecuente efecto, sobre los suelos y la productividad de las fincas.
En zonas como Sanare, en el Edo. Lara, la producción de papa (Solanum tuberosum) ha mermado a tal punto, que los espacios agrícola deberían recuperarse de una sobreexplotación y un exceso de abonamiento.
También han contaminado las tierras con semillas parasitadas por nemátodos.
Por supuesto, esto ha favorecido la política corrupta de agricultura de puertos.
Es necesario orientar al gobierno, sobre estos temas que Ud. plantea. Felicitaciones. aliriera

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Saludos @aliriera, primero gracias por tu visita, y por compartir esta interesante y al mismo tiempo lamentable situación que atraviesa el cultivo de Papa en el estado Lara, y digo interesante, por el hecho que este tipo de situaciones son precisamente los motivos de reflexión para que, tanto productores como instituciones agrícolas empiecen de una vez por todas, a tomar acciones concretas que detengan el acelerado empobrecimiento de los suelos, te comento, que en el caso del estado Mérida ya un buen grupo de productores han empezado a cambiar los métodos de manejo de suelos, incorporando enmiendas edáficas orgánicas, y en aquellos casos dónde las condiciones son extremadamente ácidas, producto de las excesivas descargas de fertilizantes sintéticos, para mejorar la condición química del suelo han optado por aplicar bioproductos sólidos a base de cal.

Con respecto al tema de los nemátodos, creo que es uno de los temas más polémicos junto a la aparición de enfermedades patógenas, pues evidentemente las grandes casas comerciales, primero crean el problema para luego vendernos la solución, sin embargo, para este tipo de situación adversa lo ideal es diseñar estrategias agroecológicas, dónde además de aplicar nematicidas biológicos, también se involucre un completo manejo integrado correctivo. De nuevo, gracias por tu vista nos seguimos leyendo.

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Greetings dear professor @lupafilotaxia, as I reviewed in one of my recent articles, agroecology is a scientific discipline that seeks to achieve decentralization and food self-sufficiency.

Its approach arises from the needs of the agri-food sector to implement a more sustainable model that is adapted to the needs of the producer and respects natural processes above all.

One way of achieving this is to see the production units as a system, where local resources are used, with synergy among the components that make up the system, and to achieve a balance between economic, environmental and social aspects.

Excellent theme, see you later, have a great weekend !

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Hello @lupafilotaxia
I absolutely love this. A vital post. Down to earth (I mean that figuratively and literally) and practical. As the granddaughter of a farmer I am embarrassed to be woefully ignorant about agriculture. This is something I intend to remedy going forward. I think we are all stewards of the earth and that stewardship begins with each of us, at home, in small gardens.

Reblogging and sharing on Twitter.

Regards, AG

BTW--the pictures are stunning.

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