Valoración de la relación c/n de dos cultivos de cobertera vicia (Vicia stenophylla) y centeno (Secale cereale) en tres localidades del cantón Riobamba provincia de Chimborazo.

Abstract

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the Carbon - Nitrogen (C/N) ratio of two cover crops, Vicia and Rye, in three places belonging to Riobamba Canton in Chimborazo Province, using the broadcast sowing method, whicwasre arranged in plotthat s separated one from the other in the sectors of San Vicente de Luisa, Achullay and Tunshi. These crops were followed up until the anthesis stage and then the biomass sampling was carried out using a square of wood, which was thrown at random and what was left inside, it was cut and weighed fresh to be sent to the INIAP laboratory for the analysis of total nitrogen and organic matter. From the data provided it was possible to calculate the following data: C/N ratio for the Vicia crop with a value of 5:1, and for Rye with 15:1; the contribution of Nitrogen in Achullay was 394 Kg N/Ha with the Vicia crop and the Carbon had an amount of 3217 Kg C/Ha, that means that these results were the most significant in relation to the other places. Through the weed count, it was verified that, in San Vicente de Luisa, there were nine units of fine leaf/𝑚2 and one unit of broad leaf/𝑚2 with the Rye crop. So, the Vicia crop provided a better C/N ratio compared to Rye and, in Achullay this crop, provided a greater contribution of Nitrogen to the soil, while Rye provided mostly Carbon. The crop that provided greater protection to the soil was Rye in San Vicente de Luisa. Therefore, planting combination with two cover crops is recommended to balance the C/N ratio for the soil.