University extension through physicochemical diagnosis of semidesert soil and knowledge exchange with local agricultural entrepreneurs

Authors

  • Luis Alberto Massa Palacios Facultad de Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria. Universidad Nacional “San Luis Gonzaga”, Ica, Perú
  • Félix Ricardo Belli Carhuayo Facultad de Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria. Universidad Nacional “San Luis Gonzaga”, Ica, Perú
  • Rene Anselmo De la Torre Castro Facultad de Ingeniería Ambiental y Sanitaria. Universidad Nacional “San Luis Gonzaga”, Ica, Perú
  • George Argota Pérez Centro de Investigaciones Avanzadas y Formación Superior en Educación, Salud y Medio Ambiente “AMTAWI”, Perú

Keywords:

agricultural production, edaphology, entrepreneurship, university extensio

Abstract

Introduction: Sustainable semidesert agriculture requires integrating scientific knowledge and local experience through soil diagnosis. Objective: To describe university extension based on soil diagnosis as a knowledge exchange strategy with agricultural entrepreneurs for interpreting soil conditions and supporting crop management. Materials and methods: A quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental, and cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2026. Tuna and maize soils were evaluated through physicochemical parameters recorded using a CHTR-8IN1-01 multiparameter soil detector. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Student’s t-test. University extension was developed through joint interpretation activities with agricultural entrepreneurs. Results: Soils associated with tuna cultivation showed higher mean values of nitrogen (26.42 mg/kg), phosphorus (37.08 mg/kg), potassium (85.50 mg/kg), moisture (25.46%), and fertility index (295.58 units) compared with maize soils. Soil temperature showed a significant difference between agricultural systems (21.56 °C vs. 19.93 °C; p = 0.0072), whereas pH, electrical conductivity, moisture, macronutrients, and fertility index did not show statistically significant differences. University extension integrated soil information and productive experience through joint interpretation of edaphic conditions, strengthening the understanding of soil behavior and its relationship with crops. Discussion: Physicochemical soil diagnosis enabled a contextualized understanding of edaphic conditions and demonstrated the articulation between academic knowledge and productive expertise through agricultural university extension. Conclusions: University extension based on edaphic evidence strengthened knowledge exchange and supported sustainable agricultural decision-making in semi-desert production systems.

References

Abdu, A., Laekemariam, F., Gidago, G., & Lakew, G. (2023). Explaining the soil quality using different assessment techniques. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2023, 6699154. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6699154

Bedolla, R. H. I., Negrete, R. M. L. X., Gámez, V. F. P., Álvarez, B . D., & Conde, B. E. (2023). Analyzing the impact of intensive agriculture on soil quality: A systematic review and global meta-analysis of quality indexes. Agronomy, 13(8), 2166. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13082166

Brichi, L., Fernandes, J. V. M., Silva, B. M., Vizú, J. d. F., Junior, J. N. G., & Cherubin, M. R. (2023). Organic residues and their impact on soil health, crop production and sustainable agriculture: A review including bibliographic analysis. Soil Use and Management, 39(2), 686-706. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12892

Dimkpa, C., Adzawla, W., Pandey, R., Atakora, W. K., Kouame, A. K., Jemo, M., & Bindraban, P. S. (2023). Fertilizers for food and nutrition security in sub-Saharan Africa: An overview of soil health implications. Frontiers in Soil Science, 3, 1123931. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1123931

El Behairy, R. A., El Arwash, H. M., El Baroudy, A. A., Ibrahim, M. M., Mohamed, E. S., Kucher, D., & Shokr, M. S. (2024). How can soil quality be accurately and quickly studied? A review. Agronomy, 14(8), 1682. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081682

Maake, M. M. S., & Antwi, M. A. (2023). Determinants of the acceptability of university agricultural extension in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 9(1), 2249951. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2249951

McGuire, E., Al-Zu'bi, M., Boa, A. M., Giang, L. T. T., Sylvester, J. M., & Valencia, L. E. M. (2024). Equity principles: Using social theory for more effective social transformation in agricultural research for development. Agricultural Systems, 218, 103999. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103999

Mhoro, L. M., Meya, A. I., Amuri, N. A., Ndakidemi, P. A., Mtei, K. M., & Njau, K. N. (2023). Influence of farmers' socio-economic characteristics on nutrient flow and implications for system sustainability in smallholdings: A review. Frontiers in Soil Science, 3, 1112629. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2023.1112629

Najdenko, E., Lorenz, F., Dittert, K., & Werner, O. H. (2024). Rapid in-field soil analysis of plant-available nutrients and pH for precision agriculture: A review. Precision Agriculture, 25, 3189–3218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-024-10181-6

Ofori, S., Abebrese, D. K., Růžičková, I., & Wanner, J. (2024). Reuse of treated wastewater for crop irrigation: Water suitability, fertilization potential, and impact on selected soil physicochemical properties. Water, 16(3), 484. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16030484

Poma, C. R., Vilca, G. C., Cama, M. E., & Gómez, C. P. (2026). The drip irrigation paradox in an arid irrigated system: A soil quality index reveals secondary salinization and nutrient accumulation in Southern Peru. Frontiers in Soil Science, 6, 1789869. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2026.1789869

Sande, T. J., Tindwa, H. J., Alovisi, A. M. T., Shitindi, M. J., & Semoka, J. M. (2024). Enhancing sustainable crop production through integrated nutrient management: A focus on vermicompost, bio-enriched rock phosphate, and inorganic fertilisers – A systematic review. Frontiers in Agronomy, 6, 1422876. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2024.1422876

Song, S., Yang, R., Cui, X., & Chen, Q. (2023). County-scale spatial distribution of soil nutrients and driving factors in semiarid Loess Plateau farmland, China. Agronomy, 13(10), 2589. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13102589

Xu, Z., Adeyemi, A. E., Catalan, E., Ma, S., Kogut, A., & Guzman, C. (2023). A scoping review on technology applications in agricultural extension. PLOS ONE, 18(11), e0292877. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292877

Yahaya, S. M., Mahmud, A. A., Abdullahi, M., & Haruna, A. (2023). Recent advances in the chemistry of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as fertilizers in soil: A review. Pedosphere, 33(3), 385–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedsph.2022.07.012

Downloads

Published

2026-08-12

How to Cite

Massa Palacios, L. A., Belli Carhuayo, F. R., De la Torre Castro, R. A., & Argota Pérez, G. (2026). University extension through physicochemical diagnosis of semidesert soil and knowledge exchange with local agricultural entrepreneurs. Maestro Y Sociedad, 23(3). Retrieved from https://maestroysociedad.uo.edu.cu/index.php/MyS/article/view/7883

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Artículos

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Luis Alberto Massa Palacios, Félix Ricardo Belli Carhuayo, Rene Anselmo De la Torre Castro, George Argota Pérez

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This journal provides immediate open access to its content, based on the principle that offering the public free access to research helps a greater global exchange of knowledge. Each author is responsible for the content of each of their articles. 

Most read articles by the same author(s)