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Vol. 18 No. 3 (2024)
In press / En imprenta

Fruits section

Soil properties associated with West-Indian avocado decline in the agroforestry systems of Montes de María, Colombia

https://doi.org/10.17584/rcch.2024v18i3.18008

Published 2024-09-01

  • Oscar Burbano-Figueroa
    • ,
  • Milena Moreno-Morán
    • ,
  • Jorge Luis Romero-Ferrer

Oscar Burbano-Figueroa
Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA), Turipaná Research Center, Cerete (Colombia)

Milena Moreno-Morán
Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA), Turipaná Research Center, Cerete (Colombia)

Jorge Luis Romero-Ferrer
Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA), Turipaná Research Center, Cerete (Colombia)

Decline of avocado trees in orchards located in the municipality of Carmen de Bolivar (Colombia). Photo: O. Burbano-Figueroa

Abstract

The Montes de María (MM) region, a major producer of West Indian avocados in Colombia, has experienced a significant decline in avocado production over the past two decades. This decline has been linked to several biotic stressors, including Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, termites, and ambrosia beetles, though these factors alone do not fully explain the spatial variability of tree decline across the region. This study aimed to assess the role of soil chemical and physical properties in exacerbating avocado decline in MM. Soil samples were collected from 32 avocado orchards with varying levels of decline. Principal Component Factor (PCF) analysis was used to identify the soil parameters most strongly associated with avocado decline. The analysis identified five principal components, accounting for 76.8% of the total variance in soil properties. Among these, PCF1, strongly associated with Ca, pH, and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), had a significant positive correlation with shoot dieback (SDB), indicating that avocado trees in soils with higher Ca and pH levels are more prone to decline, likely due to induced iron chlorosis under alkaline conditions. In contrast, PCF5, associated with phosphorus (P) and organic matter (OM), showed a strong negative correlation with SDB, suggesting that higher levels of P and OM may help reduce disease severity and slow its progression. These findings underscore the importance of soil management in mitigating avocado decline and highlight the need for integrated strategies to address both biotic and abiotic stressors.

Keywords

Persea americana Mill., Soil chemical-physical properties, Colombian Caribbean, Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands, shoot dieback

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