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Soil conservation in Cuba: A key to the new model for agriculture

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  • Paul Gersper
  • Carmen Rodríguez-Barbosa
  • Laura Orlando

Abstract

Most aspects of agriculture in Cuba prior to 1989 were comparable to California: a high energy input, conventional agriculture (based on what the Cubans now call the “classical model”) in which little was done to protect the nation's soils from erosion, loss of fertility, salinization, and other forms of degradation. In stark contrast the new “Alternative Model,” which has been rapidly replacing the previous model since 1989, emphasizes soil conservation and rehabilitation and the general improvement of the nation's soils as the key to sustaining low-input production and attainment of food security. One of the first steps in implementing the new model was the launching of an ambitious program to reclassify, evaluate, and map the nation's soils in great detail, and to interpret the maps for management of sustainable production. A main feature of this program is coordinated fertility trials to determine, for each combination of crop and soil, the minimum quantity of plant nutrients needed to produce the crop. The build up and maintenance of soil fertility and productivity is being accomplished with various organic and mineral amendments and biofertilizers, produced or mined within the country (locally, where possible) and through rational management utilizing cover crops, green manures, crop successions (intercropping and rotations), and other appropriate technologies. Rehabilitation of degraded soils, tillage reduction, reforestation, vermiculture, vermicomposting, and other forms of waste cycling are other features of the new model that are important to soil conservation and maintenance for sustainable production. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1993

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Gersper & Carmen Rodríguez-Barbosa & Laura Orlando, 1993. "Soil conservation in Cuba: A key to the new model for agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 16-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:10:y:1993:i:3:p:16-23
    DOI: 10.1007/BF02217835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeff Dlott & Ivette Perfecto & Peter Rosset & Larry Burkham & Julio Monterrey & John Vandermeer, 1993. "Management of insect pests and weeds," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 9-15, June.
    2. John Vandermeer & Judith Carney & Paul Gersper & Ivette Perfecto & Peter Rosset, 1993. "Cuba and the dilemma of modern agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 3-8, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sergio Díaz-Briquets, 1996. "Forestry Policies of Cuba's Socialist Government: An Appraisal," Annual Proceedings, The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, vol. 6.
    2. John Vandermeer & Judith Carney & Paul Gersper & Ivette Perfecto & Peter Rosset, 1993. "Cuba and the dilemma of modern agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 10(3), pages 3-8, June.
    3. Sergio Díaz-Briquets & Jorge F. Pérez-López, 1995. "The Special Period and the Environment," Annual Proceedings, The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy, vol. 5.
    4. Peter Rosset, 1997. "Cuba: Ethics, biological control, and crisis," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 14(3), pages 291-302, September.

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