Browsing by Author "Camacho Changoluisa, Eivy Margarita"

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    Relación de la salud edáfica del suelo evaluada mediante cromatografía y la sostenibilidad de los sistemas lechero familiar en el cantón Latacunga
    (Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC) Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales. Agropecuaria, 2026-11-12) Camacho Changoluisa, Eivy Margarita; Molina Cuasapaz, Edie Gabriel
    The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between soil health, assessed through Pfeiffer circular chromatography, and the sustainability of family dairy production systems in the canton of Latacunga, Cotopaxi Province, considering the importance of conserving soil resources for food security and the rural economy of the region. The objectives of the study were to characterize the soil health of pastures, correlate it with the available forage biomass, and relate it to indicators of the economic sustainability of dairy farms. The theoretical framework was based on the concepts of soil health and fertility, physical, chemical, and biological indicators of soil quality, and the principles of Pfeiffer chromatography as a qualitative diagnostic tool. Methodologically, the research followed a quantitative, non-experimental, and cross-sectional approach, using census sampling that included 21 producers and 46 pastures located in the parishes of Mulaló, José Guango Bajo, and Aláquez. Soil health was evaluated using paper chromatography, forage biomass was assessed through quadrat cutting and weighing, and milk production was measured using monthly production records. The data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests in the R software program. The results showed that most pastures exhibited degraded or poor soil conditions and that there was a positive and significant relationship between soil health and forage dry matter production. However, based on the available evidence, no statistically significant relationship was established between soil health and milk productivity per hectare. It is recommended to promote management practices that support soil recovery, conduct differentiated monitoring of farms with greater internal variability, and increase the sample size in future research to confirm the relationship between soil health and the economic sustainability of family dairy production systems.