Etnopedología: Una visión local sobre la percepción de los indicadores edáficos en la sierra ecuatorina

Abstract

Abstract:2 Abstract Making decisions about sustainable soil management depends upon the availability of local and scientific information. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to identify the management practices and productive soil indicators according to the perception of small farmers, to better understand soil fertility in the Sierra region of Ecuador while contrasting such information with physical-chemical soil parameters collected from technical-scientific information. For which, 555 semi-structured surveys were applied, aimed at farmers in the Ecuadorian highlands. This information was compared with data relating to carbon, texture, and soil pH values found on the map issued by the Ministry of Agriculture. The results indicate that farmers identify soil fertility and the main factors that curtail it, while in response to pollution problems, farmers contribute to soil conservation through local strategies that aid in improving fertility. They also indicate that most of the knowledge they possess has been transmitted through their relatives while, at the same time, many of them are currently leaving agricultural activities, causing erosion and/or transformation of knowledge. From these results it can be concluded that linking the two knowledges will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of soil fertility.