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Evaluación de poblaciones de malezas en vaquerías y su relación con los programas de manejo integrado de plagas
González Aponte, Glorialys M.
González Aponte, Glorialys M.
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Abstract
La industria lechera ha sido, durante muchos años, la principal fuente de ingresos del sector agrícola en Puerto Rico. Sin embargo, los ganaderos continúan enfrentando desafíos en el manejo de las pasturas debido a la proliferación de malezas. En Estados Unidos, se ha reportado que, cuando las malezas no son manejadas, pueden ocasionar pérdidas económicas en las pasturas que ascienden a $2 mil millones anuales. No obstante, el uso de tecnologías modernas agiliza significativamente la obtención de información sobre la salud de las pasturas, permitiendo a los ganaderos tomar decisiones más rápidas y precisas. Evaluar la composición botánica, estimar la biomasa de los forrajes en hatos lecheros bajo pastoreo y determinar la fauna insectil, así como validar el uso de imágenes multiespectrales para medir el NDVI, podría ser una estrategia beneficiosa para contribuir a la industria lechera. En este estudio, se seleccionaron 10 vaquerías categorizadas como Excelentes o Pobres, según el “Overall Pasture Condition Score” (NRCS, 2020), ubicadas en las zonas ganaderas de los municipios de Camuy, San Sebastián, Aguadilla, Isabela, Lajas y Naguabo. Durante el verano de 2023 se evaluaron tres predios de pastoreo en cada vaquería, con diferentes niveles de descanso. Se realizó un estudio de puntos de intercepción para evaluar la composición botánica, identificando un total de 42 especies de plantas pertenecientes a 15 familias botánicas. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) en la frecuencia de ocurrencia de cuatro especies Cynodon nlemfuensis (Poaceae), Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae), Rhynchospora ciliata (Cyperaceae) y Sporobolus indicus (Poaceae). En las vaquerías Excelentes, las frecuencias para estas plantas fueron de 79%, 2%, 0.37% y 4%, mientras que en las Pobres fueron de 61%, 14%, 6% y 25%, respectivamente. Además, las vaquerías Excelentes presentaron una biomasa significativamente mayor (p < 0.05) en todos los niveles de descanso, 0.66, 0.49 y 0.39 kg M.S/m² (i.e., alto, intermedio y bajo), en comparación con las vaquerías Pobres cuyos valores fueron 0.42, 0.25 y 0.21 kg M.S/m², respectivamente. En cuanto a los insectos, la especie Hortensia similis (Cicadellidae) fue la más abundante en ambas categorías, con una media de 513 individuos en las vaquerías Excelentes y 354 en las Pobres. No obstante, no se encontraron diferencias significativas (p > 0.05). Se tomaron datos de NDVI utilizando un sensor manual GreenSeekerTM y un dron equipado con una cámara multiespectral. Aunque no se estableció una correlación debido a limitaciones técnicas, se encontraron diferencias significativas (p < 0.05) en los valores de NDVI obtenidos con el GreenSeekerTM. En el nivel alto de descanso, las vaquerías Excelentes mostraron un promedio de 0.77, mientras que las Pobres presentaron un valor medio de 0.66. En el nivel intermedio, los valores fueron 0.73 para las Excelentes y 0.63 para las Pobres. Así mismo, en el nivel bajo, el promedio fue de 0.65 para las vaquerías Excelentes y 0.53 para las Pobres. En consecuencia, los resultados de este estudio pueden ayudar a los ganaderos a tomar decisiones informadas sobre las especies de malezas que afectan los predios de pastoreo y contribuir al establecimiento de mejores prácticas de manejo.
For many years, the dairy industry has been the main source of income for the agricultural sector in Puerto Rico. However, farmers continue to face challenges in pasture management due to the proliferation of weeds. In the United States, it has been reported that, when weeds are not managed, they can cause economic losses in pastures amounting to $2 billion annually. Nevertheless, the use of modern technologies significantly streamlines the process of obtaining information about pasture health, allowing farmers to make faster and more precise decisions. Evaluating the botanical composition, estimating forage biomass in dairy farms under grazing, determining insect fauna, and validating the use of multispectral images to measure NDVI could be beneficial strategies to contribute to the dairy industry. In this study, 10 dairy farms categorized as Excellent or Poor, based on the Overall Pasture Condition Score (NRCS, 2020), were selected. These farms were in the livestock regions of Camuy, San Sebastián, Aguadilla, Isabela, Lajas, and Naguabo. During the summer of 2023, three grazing fields with different rest levels were evaluated in each dairy farm. An intersection point study was conducted to assess botanical composition, identifying a total of 42 plant species belonging to 15 botanical families. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the frequency of occurrence of four species Cynodon nlemfuensis (Poaceae), Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae), Rhynchospora ciliata (Cyperaceae), and Sporobolus indicus (Poaceae). In the Excellent dairy farms, the frequencies for these plants were 79%, 2%, 0.37% and 4%, while in the Poor farms, they were 61%, 14%, 6% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, the Excellent dairy farms showed significantly higher biomass (p < 0.05) at all rest levels — 0.66, 0.49, and 0.39 kg DM/m² (i.e., high, intermediate, and low) — compared to the Poor dairy farms, whose values were 0.42, 0.25, and 0.21 kg DM/m², respectively. Regarding insects, the species Hortensia similis (Cicadellidae) was the most abundant in both categories, with an average of 513 individuals in the Excellent farms and 353 in the Poor ones. However, no significant differences were found (p > 0.05). NDVI data were collected using a handheld GreenSeekerTM and a drone equipped with a multispectral camera. Although no correlation was established due to technical limitations, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in NDVI values obtained with the GreenSeekerTM. At the high rest level, the Excellent farms showed an average of 0.77, while the Poor farms had a mean value of 0.66. At the intermediate level, the values were 0.73 for the Excellent farms and 0.63 for the Poor ones. Similarly, at the low level, the average was 0.65 for the Excellent and 0.53 for the Poor farms. Consequently, the results of this study can help farmers make informed decisions about the weed species affecting grazing fields and contribute to the establishment of better management practices.
For many years, the dairy industry has been the main source of income for the agricultural sector in Puerto Rico. However, farmers continue to face challenges in pasture management due to the proliferation of weeds. In the United States, it has been reported that, when weeds are not managed, they can cause economic losses in pastures amounting to $2 billion annually. Nevertheless, the use of modern technologies significantly streamlines the process of obtaining information about pasture health, allowing farmers to make faster and more precise decisions. Evaluating the botanical composition, estimating forage biomass in dairy farms under grazing, determining insect fauna, and validating the use of multispectral images to measure NDVI could be beneficial strategies to contribute to the dairy industry. In this study, 10 dairy farms categorized as Excellent or Poor, based on the Overall Pasture Condition Score (NRCS, 2020), were selected. These farms were in the livestock regions of Camuy, San Sebastián, Aguadilla, Isabela, Lajas, and Naguabo. During the summer of 2023, three grazing fields with different rest levels were evaluated in each dairy farm. An intersection point study was conducted to assess botanical composition, identifying a total of 42 plant species belonging to 15 botanical families. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the frequency of occurrence of four species Cynodon nlemfuensis (Poaceae), Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae), Rhynchospora ciliata (Cyperaceae), and Sporobolus indicus (Poaceae). In the Excellent dairy farms, the frequencies for these plants were 79%, 2%, 0.37% and 4%, while in the Poor farms, they were 61%, 14%, 6% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, the Excellent dairy farms showed significantly higher biomass (p < 0.05) at all rest levels — 0.66, 0.49, and 0.39 kg DM/m² (i.e., high, intermediate, and low) — compared to the Poor dairy farms, whose values were 0.42, 0.25, and 0.21 kg DM/m², respectively. Regarding insects, the species Hortensia similis (Cicadellidae) was the most abundant in both categories, with an average of 513 individuals in the Excellent farms and 353 in the Poor ones. However, no significant differences were found (p > 0.05). NDVI data were collected using a handheld GreenSeekerTM and a drone equipped with a multispectral camera. Although no correlation was established due to technical limitations, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in NDVI values obtained with the GreenSeekerTM. At the high rest level, the Excellent farms showed an average of 0.77, while the Poor farms had a mean value of 0.66. At the intermediate level, the values were 0.73 for the Excellent farms and 0.63 for the Poor ones. Similarly, at the low level, the average was 0.65 for the Excellent and 0.53 for the Poor farms. Consequently, the results of this study can help farmers make informed decisions about the weed species affecting grazing fields and contribute to the establishment of better management practices.
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Date
2024-12-11
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Keywords
Malezas, Degradación de pasturas, Biomasa de forrajes, NDVI, Drones