Soil Quality under Different Farming Systems in Santa Clara, Cuba

In Cuba there is a strong differentiation in types of farming systems that operate at very different levels of management intensity. The aim of this research was to characterize differences in soil quality caused by different agricultural management systems and the effects of seasonality on soil chemical and biological indicators within representative farming systems in Santa Clara municipality, Villa Clara Province, Cuba. Two state farms, two cooperative farms, and three private farms, all located on brown calcareous soils, which differed in soil management and technological complexity were selected. Soil samples from two fields of each farm were collected to a depth of 20 cm. Laboratory analysis were performed to determine physical (aggregate stability, plasticity, and permeability), chemical (pH and organic matter), and biological (dehydrogenase and -glucosidase activities) indicators of soil quality. We found significant differences in soil quality among the three farming systems, which were most pronounced between private and state farms, with respect to physical soil properties (aggregate stability and plasticity) and the activity of enzymes. Seasonality also exerted an important influence on the activities of dehydrogenase and -glucosidase, which were greater in the rainy season. As a conclusion, we can say that the differences in soil management between the farming systems were reflected in consistent differences in soil quality indicators, notably between the state and private farms.