Characterization of soils irrigated with wastewater for the establishment of an agroforestry system

Abstract

For more than 50 years, farmers have been using wastewater to irrigate feed crops in the Irrigation District 028 (DDR 028) of Tulancingo, in the state of Hidalgo. This practice, although useful for the production of feed crops, has caused several problems. The farmers of the ejido of San Nicolás Cebolletas, where the cost of pumping water for irrigation is very high, use residual waters, as do also the farmers of Santa Ana, where the salinity of the soil is evident. In view of this, the objective of this study was to characterize physicochemically the soils of this area (two ejidos) in order to establish an agroforestry system with a timber and an agricultural species, adapted to the present conditions. In addition, participatory workshops were held in order to engage producers in the decision making process regarding the implementation of such a system. The soils have no deficiency of K, P, Ca, Mg and Zn; however, the percentages of organic matter and of inorganic nitrogen content are poor, the texture is frank and the concentration of heavy metals is low. Based on the results from soil analyses and the opinions of the producers who participated in the workshops, a proposal was made to establish the agroforestry system (kochia-mesquite) under a design of boundary trees. According to the results obtained from the analysis of the soils, of the costs of installation of the system ($5890.00), and of the expected yields (46.70 t ha-1), it was concluded that agroforestry plantation is technically acceptable for this type of soil.