Abstract

PARADA-ROJAS, Camilo et al. Effect of burning in vegetable crops from Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander, Colombia, on mycorrhizal fungi and soil properties. Bioagro [online]. 2016, vol.28, n.3, pp.171-180. ISSN 1316-3361.

The burning of rice husk is an usual practice in land preparation for short-term production of vegetable crops in Villa del Rosario, Norte de Santander, Colombia. To determine the effect of this practice, we calculated the number of mycorrhizal spores and their root colonization percentage in coriander crops before the burning, and during four periods after. Also, organic carbon, available phosphorus, nitrogen, and pH were determined. The study involved two crops sequences on three farms of the zone where crop rotation is practiced and production of different vegetable alternates with coriander. The data was analyzed using Anova and Tukey test, along with an analysis of principal components. A significant effect was observed on the reduction of mycorrhizal fungi spores and root colonization immediately after the burning, and a gradual recovery of both of them was observed towards the fourth cultivation. Organic carbon and pH also increased after the burning, with increases of available phosphorus. The negative effect on mycorrhizal fungi shows the necessity to modify the use of this agricultural practice for land preparation, with the aim to preserve the community of mycorrhizal spores and their interaction with the roots of cultivated plants.

Keywords : Available phosphorus; organic carbon; prescribed burning.

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