Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad del Zulia

Controlled deficit irrigation on growth variables of Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides

Jesús Chavarría — 2025-06-22

Currently, efficiency in water use in agriculture is being sought through techniques that allow for the reduction of the water footprint of crops. This is why the effect of controlled deficit irrigation on the growth variables of King Grass Morado (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum typhoides) was evaluated in the canton of Chone, Ecuador. The treatments studied were: irrigation levels at 40, 60, 80, and 100 % of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The grass was sown in black polyethylene bags with a capacity of 10 kg of soil. A completely randomized experimental design with repeated measures over time was used, along with five replicates. The results obtained from the Friedman test showed significant differences (p<0.0001) due to the effects of the study factors: deficit irrigation and successive cuts of the grass on the net assimilation rate of the grass (TAN), growth rate (TC), relative growth rate (TCR), and leaf area index (IAF) did not occur in the same way for the interaction between them. When the irrigation sheet is applied at 80 % of ETc, the TC is better at 0,0002409 g.(dm².d)^-1, TCR is -0,00022 g.g.d^-1, and TAN is 0,0072065 g.(dm².d)^-1. The leaf area index performs best with the irrigation sheet at 100 % of ETc with 1,81. King Grass Morado can reduce its actual water requirement by up to 80 % without being affected in growth variables.

Effect of fulvic acid on the growth of hydroponic pea (Pisum sativum L.) microgreens

Aldo Gutiérrez — 2025-06-30

Fulvic acid is a widely recognized biostimulant due to its benefits in traditional crops; however, its application in hydroponic systems, particularly in microgreen production, is not well documented. This study evaluated the effect of fulvic acid on the growth of hydroponic pea microgreens (Pisum sativum L.). The experimental design was completely randomized and consisted of four treatments (n=5): nutrient solution (NS), fulvic acid solution 0.01 % (FA), NS + FA, and water (control). After 12 days, growth and biochemical parameters were measured. The results showed that NS and NS+FA treatments significantly increased stem length (7.73 cm and 7.28 cm), fresh weight (0.613 g and 0.618 g), and yield (6.15 kg.m^-2) compared to the FA treatment or control. The FA treatment increased stem diameter (2.38 mm) but did not significantly increase biomass. Biochemical analysis showed that FA and control had higher nitrate content, while NS and NS+FA reduced nitrate accumulation. Antioxidant capacity, chlorophyll content, and color index were similar among treatments. However, the pH increased with the application of fulvic acid. Fulvic acid alone moderately improved growth but was less effective than the nutrient solution. The combination of fulvic acid with a complete nutrient solution did not produce additive effects, highlighting the importance of balanced nutrition in hydroponic microgreen production.

Effect of solar irradiation, substrate type and environment on the growth and ornamental quality of Euphorbia cotinifolia plants

Jesús Aguilar-Luna — 2025-07-07

Euphorbia cotinifolia L. is an ornamental plant of economic importance due to the red-purple color of its foliage. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of solar irradiation, substrate type and environment on the growth and ornamental quality of E. cotinifolia plants propagated from semi-woody cuttings. Two experiments were conducted from June 2022 to March 2023, in Tetela de Ocampo and Huitzilan de Serdan, Puebla, Mexico. Each experiment had 20 treatments. The experiments had a 2x5x2 factorial design; factor 1 was growth environments, its levels: temperate climate (STC), and subtropical (SHC). Factor 2 was solar irradiation, its levels: 80, 240, 347, 394, and 571 µmol.m^-2.s^-1. Factor 3 was the type of substrate, its levels: river sand with peat moss (AT), and forest soil with perlite (SP). At 243 days after rooting, the highest values were: 32.98 cm for terminal shoot growth, 4.80 mm.day^-1 in growth rate, 1.76 in robustness index, 1.32 in Dickson's index. The maximum anthocyanin concentration was 4.94 mg.g^-1 in red-purple leaves. The highest values and the red-purple color of the foliage (quality indicator) occurred when the plants were grown on AT substrate, at 571 µmol.m^-2.s^-1 in SHC climate. It is concluded that in tropical climate, plants develop with better quality; river sand with peat moss is recommended as substrate, and exposure to high light intensities.

Physicochemical evaluation of humus and compost as a strategy to strengthen sustainable agriculture

Dennis Manzano — 2025-08-03

Soil degradation due to unsustainable anthropogenic management has generated the deterioration of its quality and health, for this reason alternatives such as the use of organic fertilizers are sought for the rehabilitation of its ecological functions. Therefore, the present study evaluated the physical-chemical properties of humus and compost produced at the Tunshi experimental station, Chimborazo, Ecuador, in order to validate their suitability for sustainable agriculture. Formulations based on local inputs were used, including guinea pig manure, plant residues, green manure, and rice husks. The analyses included parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM) and macronutrients, following the Ecuadorian standard NTE INEN 211:1998 and the INIAP technical manual. The results revealed that the compost and humus formulations comply with quality standards, highlighting the F2 compost formulation and the H2 formulation for humus with their high total nitrogen and OM content. The compost (F3) and humus (H3) formulations showed higher levels of phosphorus and potassium, although with lower nitrogen content, where F2 (35 % guinea pig manure, 25 % green manure) and H2 (50 % guinea pig manure, 50 % plant residues) showed higher nitrogen and OM content, while in F3 (25 % guinea pig manure, 30 % green manure) and H3 (40 % guinea pig manure, 60 % plant residues), there were no significant differences in the parameters of the humus formulations. These fertilizers represent a viable and sustainable agroecological alternative for the rehabilitation of degraded soils.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism panels in the racial authentication of Hairless pigs in Mexico

Clemente Lemus-Flores — 2025-06-30

Massive genotyping panels of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were evaluated to create an authentication and racial identification strategy for the Hairless pig. Three populations of Hairless pigs from the states of Nayarit (n=10), Oaxaca (n=10) and Yucatán (n=143), Mexico, were genotyped with the porcine-GGP-50K chip, and genotypes for the Duroc (n=66), Hampshire (n=33), Landrace (n=95), Large White (n=47), Pietrain (n=42) and Iberico hairless (n=15) breeds were added. Three strategies involving previously reported SNP panels and a fourth strategy involving the combination of all SNP panels was evaluated. Using canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), the canonical correlations and percentages of racial discrimination were obtained, and with the first two canonical variables, distance trees between populations were constructed. Racial separation was achieved with all four strategies; the greater the number of SNPs used, the better the identification of the Hairless pig. The combined panel with 96 SNPs achieved 100 % racial assignment and had the greatest canonical correlation in the CDA, revealing a racial grouping of the three Hairless pig populations close to the Iberian population. With SNP panels, it is possible to achieve the racial authentication of the Hairless pig and discriminate it from other pig breeds.

Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and nitrogen compounds on the fermentation of banana pulp (Musa spp.)

Juan Medina — 2025-08-02

The use of agro-industrial by-products, such as banana pulp (Musa spp.), represents a sustainable alternative for animal production, reducing costs and improving resource utilization. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, urea, and ammonium sulfate on the nutritional value of banana pulp, seeking to optimize its bromatological properties to transform it into a nutritionally viable and sustainable input. A completely randomized experimental design with a factorial arrangement was employed, considering two treatment levels: 1 % Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 0.8 % urea, and 0.1 % ammonium sulfate, and 1.5 % Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 1 % urea, and 0.2 % ammonium sulfate. The aerobic fermentation times studied were 2, 4, and 6 hours. The results showed that the best bromatological quality was achieved at 6 hours with 1 % Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 0.8 % urea, and 0.1 % ammonium sulfate. However, the most economically efficient treatment was obtained with 1.5 % Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 1 % urea, and 0.2 % ammonium sulfate in 4 hours of fermentation, due to its lower energy consumption. These findings highlight the potential of banana pulp treated as a cost-effective and sustainable input, contributing to more efficient animal production systems.

Effect of drying methods on the physicochemical composition and microstructure of pumpkin powders

Yassine Noui — 2025-08-03

To increase the shelf life of fruit and vegetables, to be able to enjoy them in all four seasons, and to preserve their genetic make-up, drying has been found to be the best technique of conservation. The aim of this work is based on the study of the drying kinetics of pumpkin (Curcubita maxima) by two drying methods namely oven drying at a temperature of 60 °C and microwave drying at 180 W, with the purpose to model the drying kinetics of thin layers of pumpkin by four mathematical models (Two-Term, Modified Henderson and Pabis, Henderson Pabis and Bousselma et al.) and to study the effect of the two drying methods on the nutritional and microstructural properties of pumpkin powders. The results showed that the Microwave drying was faster than oven drying. The Modified Henderson and Pabis and Bousselma et al., models were chosen to adequately describe the drying behavior of oven- and microwave-dried thin pumpkin slices, respectively, due to a high R² value and low χ² and RMSE values. The physicochemical composition of the two powders (POD and PMD) was significantly different (p < 0.05) in terms of water content, pH, brix, lipids, and potassium. The analysis of the qualitative composition by FTIR did not show a change between the two powders. Similarly, the structure studied by SEM showed an identical and homogeneous structure. These powders have high nutritional properties, and their incorporation into foods should therefore be recommended.

Characterization of bovine production system typologies on indigenous reservations (Etnia-Pijao) at Natagaima-Tolima, Colombia

Ciro Ortiz-Valdes — 2025-07-06

In southern Tolima, Colombia, the Indigenous Reservations (IR) of the Pijao ethnic group depend on cattle ranching, but their productive dynamics are poorly understood, making it difficult to design sustainable models. The objective of this study was to characterize the emerging typologies of the bovine production system of these IR by considering the sociocultural, techno-economic, and environmental processes. In 2023, a semi-structured interview was conducted in fifteen production units (PU) of the twenty-nine existing in the area. Indicators from each dimension (techno-economic, sociocultural, and environmental) were analyzed through multivariate analysis, identifying three typologies: G1 (46.6 %), composed by small IRs whith technology low level, showing a small-scale production; G2 (26.7 %), also grouped small IRs with small-scale production but moderately technified; and G3 (26.7 %) was integrated by large IRs, moderately technified and with a medium scale production. G3 stood out for some indicators of the techno-economic dimension. Although, all groups showed a low level of technological adoption, which resulted in poor productive and reproductive performance. The differences in G3’s better economic outcomes are due to its larger scale of production. In the social sphere, female leadership stood out, especially in groups with the highest proportion of trained people (G2 and G3). Overall, the PUs showed soils with poor organic matter content, low fertility level, little forest coverage and a moderate degree of erosion, indicating some alterations of the agroecosystem.