Technical Series Number 29, August 2001
The area cultivated with sugar cane in the Cauca River Valley is heterogeneous with respect to its soil and climate conditions. In addition, the productivity of cane and sugar differs according to the environment, which indicates that it is necessary to characterize the appropriate environments or agroecological zones for the production system.
CENICAÑA defines an agroecological zone for sugarcane cultivation as a relatively homogeneous zone in relation to the crop's response in production, characterized by generally stable long-term biophysical factors.
The agroecological zones in this third approach have been formed according to the following elements: (a) water balance, which involves precipitation and evapotranspiration; (b) the semi-detailed study of soils in the Cauca River valley; (c) the grouping of soils, defined based on: taxonomic classification, geomorphological position, humidity regime, textural family and drainage and (d) humidity groups, formed based on water balance and soil permeability. The agroecological zoning was carried out using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and statistical and geostatistical methods for data analysis.
Agroecological zoning establishes 51 zones in which the crop's response is expected to be relatively homogeneous in terms of production. The characterization of agroecological zones for sugarcane cultivation is a dynamic process due to the basic elements that make it up, such as soil and climate. For example, rainfall plays an important role in the spatial distribution of the zones because it directly affects the water balance in the soil and, consequently, the extension of areas with a deficit or excess of moisture.
The validation process of agroecological zones will be enriched by the results of new research and by the experiences of sugar mills and sugarcane growers who adopt the technologies specific to each area. The results obtained can be compared with each other and in this way, it is hoped that they will improve the productivity and profitability of the crop.
