Agronomic performance of forage corn for cattle feeding in Amazonas, Peru.

Corn (Zea mays) silage is an important and popular feed for dairy production in the Amazon region, so it is necessary to evaluate the agronomic performance of forage varieties of corn for cattle feeding in Amazonas. For this purpose, three corn varieties were evaluated (variety 1: Yellow Starchy Corn, variety 2: Chuska INIA 617, and variety 3: DOW 2B710), with two planting densities (density 1: 30 × 80 cm and density 2: 35 × 75 cm) and two fertilization conditions: with fertilization (F1) and without fertilization (F2). The parameters evaluated were plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width, stem diameter, fresh forage, and dry matter. Student t-tests, correlation analysis of variables, and principal component analysis using R software version 4.1.3 were used for data analysis. The results indicated that variety 2 obtained the best values for the variables leaf width (12.33 cm) and stem diameter (3.25 cm), fresh forage (17.77 kg/m2), and dry matter (4.8 kg/m2), which would explain the directly proportional correlation found between leaf width and stem diameter with fresh forage and dry matter. The principal component analysis showed constant height and leaf length increases, and the best-evaluated parameters were associated with applying fertilizer. The variety that showed the best agronomic performance under Chachapoyas conditions was Chuska INIA 617, emerging as a potential feed for cattle.

Structural analysis of the future of the coffee industry in the Amazonas region using a MICMAC approach.

Currently there are problems in improving the competitiveness of the coffee industry in Amazonas, in this context the present research seeks to analyze the future behavior of the coffee industry through a structural analysis with MICMAC. For this purpose, 14 coffee guilds of Amazonas were interviewed, followed by an external and internal evaluation and a structural analysis with MICMAC. Subsequently, future events were analyzed and validated by experts. MICMAC identified in the short term the importance of local and regional governments supporting the coffee associations in order to achieve their objectives, such as increasing organic coffee production and expanding the coffee frontier; in the medium term, a coffee research center should be created; and in the long term, studies on the different microclimates should be carried out in order to achieve a high price and international demand. The motricity and dependency study contributed to the generation of eight probable events, of which five events are likely to occur by 2030 and a desirable scenario is the ideal.

New wheat variety INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ: Selection and agronomic and commercial characterization in Cusco, Peru.

The objective of this study was to select and characterize agronomically the advanced bread wheat line H - 1246 which gave origin to the INIA wheat variety 440 - K'ANCHAREQ. The research included yield trials in farmers' fields during 4 production seasons (2012-2016), adaptation and agronomic efficiency trials in two production seasons (2016-2018). In addition, the reaction to Yellow Rust and distinctness, uniformity and stability characteristics of the new wheat variety and commercial controls were evaluated. The plots for each of the trials were conducted under a Completely Randomized Block design with three replications. At the end of the trials, desirable characteristics in the baking industry such as hectoliter weight, protein, ash, gluten and flour moisture were evaluated. The results showed that the new INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety has ten clear differences in qualitative characteristics, which distinguish it from other varieties and remained constant during the trials. The yield trials between locations showed the adaptation of the INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety to the different locations due to its high yield and hectoliter weight values. At the locality level, Andenes obtained the highest values in most of the production seasons. Adaptation trials during the second season showed the superiority of the new INIA 440 - K'ANCHAREQ variety for variables such as yield, plant height, ear size and thousand grain weight. The new variety showed no signs of stripe rust during the trials. Industrial quality trials indicated that it has good characteristics for the baking industry.

Agromorphological characterization of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) accessions from the germplasm bank of the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation, Peru.

Agromorphological characterization of cacao accessions in Peru is currently an important tool in the conservation and genetic improvement of cacao germplasm. The objective of this study was to carry out the morphological and agronomic characterization of 113 cacao accessions from the Huarangopampa germplasm bank. Tree, leaf, flower, fruit and seed descriptors were used. The data collected were processed by descriptive statistics using multivariate techniques. Five groups were formed according to similar characteristics. The accessions of group 1 are vigorous trees with an pod index of 19.27 pods/kg of seeds; the groups that presented better differential characteristics were group 2 with erect tree architecture, intermediate vigorousness, purple seed color and pod index of 20.07 pods/kg of seeds and group 3, which had the highest number of accessions with the lowest pod index of 18.77 pods/kg of seeds, besides being vigorous trees and having purple seeds. On the other hand, group 4 presented a particular characteristic of white seed color and high pod indexes with 22.11 pods/kg of seeds. Finally, group 5 accessions were characterized by intermediate tree architecture and vigor with an pod index of 21.3 pods/kg of seeds. The morphoagronomic characterization constitutes a first advance in the identification of cacaos with potential for genetic improvement and advances in the Peruvian chocolate industry.

Characterization of Coffea arabica L. parent plants and physicochemical properties of associated soils, Peru.

It is important to carry out the morphological characterization of coffee parent plants and the physicochemical properties of the associated soils in the Amazon region, Peru, in order to achieve germplasm conservation. One hundred coffee mother plants were identified and located in five provinces of the region and evaluated according to morphological descriptors such as stipula shape, young leaf color, leaf shape, leaf apex shape, young shoot color, leaf color, fruit color, fruit shape, mature leaf color, and rust incidence percentage. In the plots where the parent plants were located, soil sampling was carried out to determine the physical and chemical properties. The varieties with the greatest presence in the five provinces were Típica and caturra roja, with the greatest number of specimens reported for the province of Bagua. The predominant stipule shape was triangular (91%), lanceolate leaf shape (60%) and red fruit color (90%). Bongará reported the lowest incidence of yellow rust, as well as the Mundo Novo Rojo variety. Soil pH ranged from acidic to neutral values, low electrical conductivity, high organic matter content, low phosphorus content, high potassium levels and medium cation exchange capacity. The predominant textural class was sandy loam. The physical and chemical characterization of the soils under study show favorable ranges to encourage the best development of coffee cultivation.

Genetic Groups of Fine-Aroma Native Cacao Based on Morphological and Sensory Descriptors in Northeast Peru.

The northeastern region of Peru is one of the centers of origin of cocoa due to the great diversity of this cultivar. The objective of this study is, therefore, to search for different genetic groups of 146 ecotypes of fine-aroma native cacao from the northeastern region of Peru, based on the morphological descriptors of pods, seeds, sensory, yield, and sampling altitude. The data were analyzed using multivariate statistics; a cluster analysis was performed with the numerical and categorical variables, followed by a principal component analysis (PCA) and the DGC (Di Rienzo, Guzmán y Casanoves) mean comparison test for the numerical data. Contingency tables and the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) were performed for the categorical data. We differentiated 5 genetic groups; helpfully, sensory characteristics of the flowers and pod, size and weight of the seeds, and pod index were in fact crucial in separating the groups. The ecotypes of the groups labeled as "Indes" and "Bagüinos" reported the best sensory characteristics with high floral and fruity notes and with a good yield expressed in pod index (13.88 and 11.88, respectively). Furthermore, these ecotypes are found at medium and high altitudes, above 500 m a.s.l., a factor that enables them to express their sensory and yield attributes. On the contrary, the ecotypes known as "Toribianos" and "Cajas" report the highest pod indices (20.77 and 16.78, respectively), resulting in low productivity. In the future, the variability of the ecotypes found will help establish genetic improvement programs that contribute to the development of cocoa farming in general.

Influence of arboreal components on the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil under four silvopastoral systems in northeastern Peru.

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) are presented as an alternative for the protection and recovery of soils; however, the relationship between the tree component and the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil is unknown. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil under four silvopastoral systems (SPS), alder (Alnus acuminata), pine (Pinus patula), cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), and pona (Ceroxylon quindiuense), and a treeless system (TS) in the Amazonas region. A completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments and three replicates was used. The experimental units were sampled at two depths, 0-15 and 15-30 cm. The parameters evaluated were pH, electrical conductivity (dS/m), organic matter (%), phosphorus (ppm), potassium (ppm), cation exchange capacity (meq/100 g), porosity (%), mechanical resistance (kg/cm2), bulk density (gr/cm3), moisture (%) and total carbon (t/ha). The results were analyzed by analysis of variance (α = 0.05 %) and Tukey's test of means (p ≤ 0.05). The systems presented strong acidic pH values (4.11-5.61), which resulted in high organic matter contents in all systems (6.74-9.99 %). The highest phosphorus content was in the SPS with alder (12.64 ppm), and the highest potassium content was in the SPS with cypress (382.33 ppm). Porosity in all systems was higher than 60 %. The highest bulk density was between 15 and 30 cm, and the highest percentage of moisture was in the surface layer (0-15 cm). The mechanical strength was higher in the SPS with cypress (2.62 kg/cm2). For all the systems evaluated, the highest carbon stock was found in the first 15 cm. The SPS with pine had the best soil characteristics and carbon sequestration (149.05 t/ha).