Comparison of analytical methods for the determination of organic matter in soil with coffee waste
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29312/remexca.v16i8.3913Keywords:
soil analysis, calcination, fertility, mexican regulationsAbstract
Organic matter is an indicator of soil quality and fertility and directly influences its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Its analysis is fundamental for agricultural and forestry production. The Walkley-Black method is the standard established in Mexican regulations; nevertheless, it has environmental disadvantages as it uses toxic chemical reagents with handling characteristics. For this reason, the calcination method is proposed as an alternative, which directly quantifies the content of organic matter in the soil by determining the weight loss of a sample when subjected to high temperatures. In this study, both methods were compared in soil samples enriched with solid coffee waste and with compost made from scw/bovine manure. The data were statistically analyzed to assess equivalence between the methods. The results showed a high correlation (r= 0.951) and absence of significant differences (p= 0.94), which supports the feasibility of using the calcination method as an alternative to the Walkley-Black method, given the high correlation in the values of organic matter when analyzed by both analytical methods. The possibility of modifying the current regulations to incorporate the calcination method is suggested, providing a safe and ecological option for determining organic matter in the soil.
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