Effect of feather compost on soil chemical indicators in CCN-51 cocoa plantation (Theobroma cacao L.)

Resumen

Introduction. Organic management of cocoa accounts for 60% of production in Peru and large amounts of compost prepared with different inputs are used, in order to improve the quality of the soil and cocoa yields. Objective. Evaluated the effect of the application of chicken feather compost on the main soil chemical indicators in a cocoa plantation CCN-51 un the Town of Nuevo Progreso, province of Padre Abad in the Ucayali-Peru region was evaluated. Materials and methods. A randomized complete block design was used, with four treatments and four repetitions where: FC1 was an absolute witness, FC2 feather compost at a rate of 2,000 kg. ha- 1, FC3 feather compost at a rate of 4,000 kg. ha-1 and FC4 feather compost at a rate of 6 000 kg. ha-1. The main chemical indicators of soil quality were evaluated: hydrogen potential (pH), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) , aluminum (Al3+), available cadmium (Cd2+), changeable acids (AC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Results. The results showed a decrease in exchangeable aluminum and changeable acidity and increases in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, depending on the proportion of compost applied, these indicators presented significant differences (p <0.05); The pH, calcium and cadmium available did not show significant differences (p <0.05). Conclusion. Feather compost (FC) significantly improved the levels of OM, N, P and K+, indicators that define soil quality and reduce aluminum levels, the latter of utmost importance in acidic soils.