Aireación en un suelo de café

Abstract

This work constitutes a study on drainage and aeration made within a selected area comprising part of the IICA coffee collection area with a variable topography. The area (about 0.5 acre) was divided into four sites according to topography. Carbon-dioxide diffusion rate was measured by a simple absorption method employing standard sodium hydroxide solution, contained in a plastic dish, exposed under an inverted basin pressed into the soil for a fixed period. In addition to surface carbon-dioxide diffusion rate, carbon-dioxide diffusion rates at 6, 18 and 36 inches depth were also determined. Samples of soil air were collected at different depths (three replications at each site) by the well method of Boynton and Reuther and analyzed for oxygen and carbon dioxide contents by means of a portable Haldane apparatus and a Beekman D2 oxygen analyzer. From the analysis of the data, the following main conclusions were drawn: The soil down to the full depth of the profile at the different sites showed no significant differences in the following characteristics: root room; infiltration and percolation rates; soil air composition, and surface diffusion of carbon-dioxide which were all satisfactory and would be regarded as adequate for the normal growth of the coffee plant. The four sites differed in regard to degree of drainage. The differences in degree of drainage were reflected in soil air content. The fluctuations of water table were closely correlated with the daily rainfall. A good composition of soil air analyzed was not always an index of good drainage condition or an abundant water free pore space.