Abstract

PINEDA, Neida; JAIMES, Edgar; ELIZALDE, Graciano  and  MENDOZA, José. Physical suitability of three soil classes in the Motatan river lowlands, Trujillo State, Venezuela. Bioagro [online]. 2004, vol.16, n.2, pp.85-92. ISSN 1316-3361.

Physical suitability of three soil classes located in an area of 30,365 hectares of one alluvial sector in the Motatan river lowlands, Trujillo State, Venezuela, was determined. The soil classes identified as A, B and C, showed the following main attributes: Class A, horizon A thicker than 17 cm and texture never clayey, unmottled profile, without gley or risk of flooding. Class B, profile with moderate or imperfect drainage, and presence of gley. Class C, thickness of horizon A equal or lower than 17 cm. Well or somewhat excessively drained. Unmottled profile, without gley or risk of flooding. Agricultural requirements were determined for the most important crops in the area: banana plant (Musa spp.) under irrigation, sugar cane (Sacharum officinarum) under irrigation and mechanized production of maize (Zea mays) under irrigation. Evaluation of the land was accomplished using the maximum limitation method. The characteristics of the three soil classes were compared on agricultural use, obtaining their physical aptitudes. For each type of physical aptitude (qualitative) one quantitative type was estimated according to the expected crop yield. It is concluded that, according to the agronomic limitations, the soil class C showed better physical aptitude than soil class A, which resulted better than soil class B, for the three suitable agricultural uses.

Keywords : Land evaluation; agricultural use; land characteristics.