Soil Fertility - Cuba
by José Antonio Sanchez Gonzales - 2014 Graduate
Farmer & Trainer
page developed by Noriko Nakayama, ARI Staff (site visit March and June 2019)
submitted December 2019
Crop Rotation & Fitomas
Cuba is well-known as a country that practices organic farming nationwide. After José returned from ARI, he became an independent farmer, taking over the farm of his father. Previously he worked at an NGO called the Christian Center for Reflection and Dialogue. He is still close with this NGO and often conducts agricultural training sessions with them on his farm. Here I will introduce two methods José uses to improve and maintain soil fertility on his farm.
Crop Rotation
José divides his vegetables into 5 main categories and each year he rotates the beds in which they are planted according to the chart below. He follows a similar rotation process for his herbs but rotates them every 2 or 3 years.
https://gyazo.com/46ad5169056a3f92e68a6c585c851def
Rotation groups of vegetables
1) Strawberries / Aloe (for medicine)
2) Lettuce
3) Flower seedling nursery
4) Carrots
5) Beetroot
Rotation groups of herbs
1) Marigolds
2) Basil
3) Oregano
4) Thyme
José's rotation system also takes the Cuban climate into account, following seasonal planting schedules.
Summer crops (April to August)
Okra
Long and short beans
Seedlings of flowers
Winter crops (October to March)
Carrots
Beetroot
Radishes
Lettuce
Chard
Parsley
Onions
Tomatoes of different varieties
Peppers of different varieties
In September, José applies compost and animal manure to his fields.
https://gyazo.com/796331d520b81db4b3840c6784a9d8d3
The vegetable garden in March (Winter crops)
https://gyazo.com/5ea3772ae595ba2623845951584bf21c
The vegetable garden in June (Summer crops)
Fitomas
Fitomas is a kind of organic fertilizer made from sugar cane that is used widely in Cuba. It is an all-natural, plant-based material that enhances soil-plant exchange. It is produced by the ministry of sugar and can be obtained through co-operatives at a low price. José uses it as an accelerator, applying it 2 or 3 times during the growth cycle, starting at the seedling stage. For the first application the dilution is 5ml of Fitomas to one liter of water. For subsequent applicants the dilution is 8ml of Fitomas to one liter of water.
https://gyazo.com/4647430410a0f152eea3c482f2aecca7
Fitomas in a plastic bottle
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