The management of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in the potato crop is a constraint for growers in Colombia, and it is important to seek alternatives for its control. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate a decision support system (DSS) for the management of the disease in three potato varieties. For this purpose, an experiment was established in the municipality of Mosquera, Cundinamarca (Colombia), with three treatments (DSS management [T1], positive control [T2] and negative control [T3]) in a crop cycle with three cultivars (cv Diacol Capiro, cv Ica Única and cv Suprema). Yield variables, late blight severity, area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and its relative area (rAUDPC) were measured. The use of DSS (T1) resulted in yields comparable to those obtained with strictly chemical management (T2). There were statistically significant differences (p &l...

This study analyzed spatial soil fertility variability in a 1440 m² plot in Mosquera, Colombia, to create homogeneous management zones for precision agriculture.  480 soil samples were collected using a 3x1 m grid, analyzing pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, exchangeable cations, microelements, and soil organic matter (SOM).  Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified SOM, pH, and electrical conductivity as key indicators for zoning. Kriging interpolation mapped these properties, revealing high variability.  The exponential model best represented the semivariograms.  Fuzzy clustering, based on indicator thresholds, divided the plot into two zones, with high overlap between pH and SOM-based divisions.  A QUEFTS model simulated crop yield, showing that optimized N and K fertilization, based on zoning, maximized yields. The study demonstrates the effectiv...

Water is fundamental for the development of life, its care and good management being a responsibility that we must have when we use it. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two irrigation techniques on the yield and volume of water applied to the potato crop. For this, an experiment was established under two irrigation alternatives (proposed and traditional) in a potato cycle of the Tuquereña variety, in the municipality of Toca, department of Boyacá (Colombia). Where properties of each irrigation proposal were measured (uniformity of application, volume of water applied, irrigation efficiency) and at the end of the crop cycle, information on crop performance was taken. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were presented when the proposed irrigation system was used, increasing production by 3 tons per hectare and reducing the volume of wa...

Soil conservation practices are a strategy to mitigate the constant degradation that can occur when crops are established. It is of great importance to evaluate the effect that this type of practices can have on the development of sugarcane plants. The objective of the study was to evaluate agronomic variables (population and stem weight, plant height and stem diameter) and quality of sugarcane juices (pH, content of soluble solids, reducing sugars, sucrose and phosphorus content) for panela production. For this, a one-factor experiment with two treatments (reduced and conventional tillage systems) was established in an area of 4000 square meters in the municipality of Vélez (department of Santander-Colombia). No statistically significant differences were observed (p > 0.05) in the evaluated variables, indicating that the evaluated tillage treatments do not interfere with both the de...