Soil Management Alternatives in Arid Regions of The Southern Highlands of Bolivia

Abstract

The Southern Altiplano of Bolivia is situated at an elevation between 3800 and 4000 meters above sea level and is characterized by frequent droughts, with an annual precipitation of 200 mm, mainly concentrated in January and Feb­uary. The soils in this area, classified as Fluvi­sols and Cambisols according to FAO due to their proximity to the Salar de Uyuni, exhibit low organic matter content (less than 5 g kg^-1). Wind erosion and salinity pose challenges to the cultivation of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), which is the primary crop in this re­gion, serving both for subsistence and commer­cial purposes. Current quinoa management practices have limitations that compromise the sustainable use of the soil. To improve these conditions, the following practices are being promoted: 1. Crop rotation, utilizing legumes followed by quinoa, with a resting period to en­hance soil fertility; 2. Implementation of living barriers, using native shrubs and grasses to re­duce erosion, especially wind erosion; 3. Appli­cation of improved or decomposed manure to enhance soil fertility; 4. Adoption of green ma­nure, such as Lupinus sp.; and 5. Implementa­tion of reduced tillage through the use of verti­cal implements that do not invert the soil. Alt­hough the utilization of this last alternative is still in its early stages. The implementation of these alternatives has shown to increase crop yields by up to 30% under the arid conditions of the Bolivian Altiplano.