Evaluation of sustainability indicators in fragile livestock agro-ecosystems in the province of Granma, Cuba

Abstract

Soil stability was determined in five grassland agroecosystems in Granma province, through the evaluation of a group of indicators (taxonomic and functional composition of soil biota and its relationship with the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as vegetation characteristics). Multivariate techniques (principal component analysis (PCA) and/or the Impact Assessment Model (MEMI) were used. The microflora showed high preponderance values and the three variables were grouped into a component that explained 64.97 % of the variability. The mesofauna variables were grouped into two components and explained 66.93% of the variability. In the first component called "Nematodes and functional groups" seven variables were concentrated that explain 51.17%. The second component called "Mesofauna and predators" grouped two variables that explain 15.76%. Of the 13 variables studied of the Macrofauna, only 6 were those that showed greater variability of the set of 416 data. The selected model extracted three components which explained 70.87% of the total variability. The analysis of the chemical properties of the soil showed that with two components 86.10 % can be explained. The first component called pH and nutrients, grouped five variables and in this case the BM was inversely proportional to the rest of the other variables. The selected variables allowed to relate and integrate the knowledge to detect and / or propose alternatives that allow correcting the degree of fertility of the soils.