Fertilidad del suelo con prácticas agroecológicas y manejo convencional en el cultivo de café Soil fertility with agroecological practices and conventional cultivation management in coffee crop

The implementation of agroecological practices in coffee plantations (Coffea arabica L.), is critical for the maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility and the sustainable management of the system. The study was conducted from June 2009 to January 2010 at two sites, the Jardin Botanico and the Campos Azules Experimental Centre, in Masatepe, Nicaragua. Both places are located between the coordinates 11°54’’ north latitude and 86°09’’ west longitude. The purpose was to evaluate the effect of two agroecological practices and a conventional cultivation management practice on the physical, chemical and biological fertility of the soil in coffee plantations. A univariate arrangement was used in a Randomized Complete Blocks (RCB) design with three replicates. The variables were bulk density, porosity, water retention, organic matter, total