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Physical suitability of the three soil class to three grass of the River Motatan lowlands, Trujillo State, Venezuela

Abstract:

Physical suitability of three soil classes previously identified in groups and characterized through a methodology, that enables agricultural technicians and experienced farmers to define group of soils in a more understandable way, was determined. The study area covered 30,365 hectares of an alluvial sector in the Motatan River lowlands, Trujillo state, Venezuela. Land Evaluation was made using the maximum limitation method. Different grass requirements were determined: guinea (Panicum maximum), brachiaria (Urochloa decumbes) and German Grass (Echinochloa plectostachium). The characteristics of the three soil classes were compared as to grass requirements. The three soil classes qualified with the same degree of physical aptitude for each grass, differing as to the restrictive quality. In this manner: Soil classes A and C were considered marginally suitable (A3) for Guinea and Brachiaria grasses, and the restrictive quality was pH. They were moderately suitable (A2) for German grass, where drainage and texture were the restrictive qualities. Soil class B was marginally suitable (A3) for Guinea and Brachiaria grasses, where drainage was the restrictive quality, and moderately suitable (A2) for German grass, where pH was the restrictive quality. Guinea and Brachiaria grasses can improve their final classification if pH is modified for soil classes A and B or if the drainage of soil class B is modified, while German grass would only improve its suitability if the pH of soil class B is modified. To each class of physical aptitude (qualitative) a quantitative class was estimated according to the expected grass yield.