Yudith Viñas-Quintero, Jesús González-Dominguez, Yakelín Cobo-Vidal, Alegna Rodríguez-Fajardo and Gerardo Cervera-Duverger
Instituto de Investigaciones de la Caña de Azúcar (INICA), Carretera CUJAE, Km 2 ½, Boyeros, Habana, Cuba; yudith.vinas@inica.azcuba.cu; vinasyudith@gmail.com
The objective of this study was to use soil groups to characterize the main soil degradation factors that limit the production of sugarcane in Cuba. The most representative soil group was selected for each province, grouping them on similar formation processes, physicochemical characteristics and soil limitations. Soil samples were subjected to chemical and physical analysis to identify limiting factors in each field. Most of the groups exhibited pH levels conducive to crop growth, with the exception of the «Ferralitizados Cálcicos» in the western region, which ranged from acidic to very acidic. Available phosphorus levels were generally medium to very high, although the «Gleyzados Ferralitizados» in Artemisa, the «Sialitizados Cálcicos» in Villa Clara and the «Ferralitizados Cálcicos» in Ciego de Ávila had low levels. Available potassium varied from very low to low in the “Ferralitizados Cálcicos” and “Gleyzados Ferralitizados” groups, while showed medium to high levels in «Gleyzados Sialitizados», «Vertisuelos», «Aluviales» and «Sialitizados Cálcicos» groups, the last three having the highest organic matter content. Recommendations were made for effective management practices to mitigate degradation and increase agricultural productivity of sugarcane.