"Partido" area, extends for more than 3000 hectares located between the municipalities of San Antonio de los Baños, Güira de Melena and Alquízar in the Artemisa province, Cuba. It stands out for the high commercial value of its tobacco production, an intensive agricultural practice that has taken place since late XVIII century and currently, delivers more than half of the national wrapper production to make the export cigars, besides being included under the denomination of origin Habanos D.O.P. (Protected Denomination of Origin), as established by the Cuban Tobacco Research Institute (2012).

Predominant soils in the area are Red Ferralitic (Rhodic Ferralsol according to the World Reference Base), according to Hernández, Pérez, Bosch, & Rivero (1999), who describe them as deep, well-drained and light to moderate acid soils. However, results of further researchs (Cánepa, Trémols, Hernández, Monzón, & Valiente, 2012; Febles, Vega, Do Amaral, Tolón, & Lastra, 2014), even though they admit the importance of the soils within this genetic group for the Cuban agriculture, they have also warned over their marked evolution towards soil degradation, expressed in significant affectations in their major fertility indicators.

This situation is also present in the "Partido" tobacco growing area, for which reports are valid by Trémols, Cánepa, Monzón, Villalón, & Álvarez (2013), over the existence of a relationship between the scale of degradation and the continuous farming overexploitation; these authors also highlight that in Red Ferralitic soils subjected to intensive irrigation regime, the described characteristics can be recognized for such degradation process while soils of the same gender classification but cultivated under non irrigated conditions for the same time (more than 60 years) show no significant statistically variations in their fertility indicators.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an acidophilous plant whose yield and quality are affected by soil alkalinization (Tso, 1990).

This identifies as a demand of knowledge the assessment of the magnitude and effect of these alkalinization phenomena in this region for the Cuban tobacco production in order to have solid information for the draw-up of corresponding strategies for the recovery and management of the soils in the mentioned area.

The design and execution of the research performed were devoted to this objective.

The relief of soils in the "Partido" tobacco area is flat, with slopes in general less than 2% according to the description by Hernández et al., (2014); according to Bernal (2009), the studied region belongs to an area where climate classifies as tropical sub-humid, with a wet season of an annual average rainfall of approximately 1500 mm and a dry season, suitable for tobacco cultivation, with figures between 300 and 350 mm. As for the temperature regime, he points out that annual average temperatures are of 24.7ºC, with a maximum average temperature of 29.8ºC and a minimum of 19.7ºC.

The origin material of the Red Ferralitic soils of the area is hard limestone from the Tertiary Period (Miocene-Neogene), that in most cases is found at depths between 2-3 meters or more (Hernández, Morales, Ascanio, Bojórquez, García, & García, 2006).

The soil of the studied area has been historically devoted to the tobacco and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) productions since late XVIII century; natural vegetation is of semidecidious forests with some variations which, in the greater part of the territory, have been replaced by crops, pastures and scrubs (Hernández et al., 2014). Figure 1, shows the geographical location of the "Partido" area.

Figure 1

In the municipality of San Antonio de los Baños areas of Red Ferralitic soils that were completely uncultivated since 1941 were identified; taking into consideration their representation and the absence of disturbances of man-made origin, a spot was selected where a test pit was dug, described and sampled according to the methodological guidelines by Hernández et al., (1995); once the profile was analyzed and checked its major parameters, match the genuineness criteria for uncultivated Red Ferralitic soils, according to Mesa, Colom, Trémols, Pena, & Suárez (1992), a sample of the superficial horizon was dried in the air, strained to 2 mm. and placed in plastic columns of 100 gr. capacity to be subjected to a simulated alternate irrigation regime and rainfall with the average values of the region and that the records of the Meteorology Institute set at 1500 mm. per year.

The water used for each irrigation cycle came from natural sources, allocated for tobacco irrigation in the studied area. Rain water used was previously collected at the beginning of the modeling stage.

Similarly, a test pit was dug in degraded soils areas (continuous increases in pH levels) and devoted uninterruptedly to tobacco production for decades; for the selection and location of the spot the genuineness as degraded soil was also taken into consideration.

Every irrigation and rain cycle was considered, by its effects on the soils, as equivalent to a calendar year. After every simulated irrigation and rain cycles, collected drainage waters were analyzed (pH, electric conductivity, total soluble salts and cations according to the National Bureau for Normalization, Metrology and Quality, 2006); at the time of setting up the experiment and at the end of the periods of 10, 20 and 35 cycles (years), samples were taken for similar analysis.

The test pits of Red Ferralitic soils were located at 22º52´10"N and 82º33´57" O for the uncultivated soil and at 22º51´10"N and 82º31´10"O for the degraded soil (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Evaluation of soils properties was carried out according to the procedure established by Hernández et al. (1995), and taking into consideration the criteria developed for Red Ferralitic soils by Mesa et al.(1992), from samples that were dried in air conditions, grounded and strained to 0.5 and 2 mm for their analyses: hydrolytic acidity, pH in water and sodium chloride, interchangeable cations as well as the maximum hygroscopicity, capillary elevation and the upper plasticity limit were determined as physical indicators.

From both soil profiles (uncultivated and degraded), some characteristic samples were also taken from the horizon "A" up to 25 cm. deep (Hernández et al., 1995) that were dried in the air and strained to 2 mm. From every sample the clay fraction was extracted by sedimentation (≤ 2 μm; Klimes-Szmik, Suárez, Mesa, & Pena, 1980).

Mineralogical analyses were carried out to the fractions ≤ 2 mm and ≤ 2 μm of the samples for both soil conditions, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) by using a diffractometer X´Pert with CuKαmonochroming radiation with graphite. In the case of the clay fraction, diffractograms from the disoriented powder preparations and from the following oriented additions were obtained: dry in the air, solvated in ethylene glycol, heated up to 300ºC and heated up to 500ºC for 3 hours. For the fraction ≤ 2 mm only disoriented powder preparations were performed.

For the qualitative analysis of the crystalline stages present in the samples the Power Difraction File was performed. The semiquantitative estimation of the content for these stages was carried out by using the standardized RIR method; the values of the Reference Intensity Reason (RIR) for every stage were obtained from the Powder Difraction Database of ICDD. General experiment conditions were established by the X-Ray Diffraction Services of the Agrarian Science Institute from the Scientific Research Upper Council based in Madrid (Spain).

In Table 1, the results of the chemical, physical and physical-chemical analyses are shown for each soil condition.

Table 1

Y1: Hydrolytic acidity, Hy: Maximum hygroscopicity, EC: Capilarry elevation in 5 hours; LSP: Plasticity upper level

Although, the firsts reports over the degradation of Red Ferralitic soils (Cancio, 2002) only describe the rise in pH of soil superficial horizons or confirm the alkalinization of soils, together with a decline of the Ca/Mg relationship (González, Cánepa, Trémols, & Chávez, 2010; Cánepa et al., 2012), in Table 1, it is shown that the intensity of the described phenomenon reaches the whole soil profile, which allows to assume that it was not but the expression of a long-lasting and regular process of quality loss of this natural resource and that itself, far from being a logical consequence of the incidence of environmental factors for decades, is associated to the continuous farming in this region.

Soil alkalinization was present along the complete soil profile, together with a drastic decrease of the hydrolytic acidity and, correspondingly, by a drop of the soil potential acidity. At the same time, comparatively, an interchangeable calcium accumulation along the profile linked to a reduction of interchangeable magnesium occurred, while the levels of interchangeable potassium in the profile of the degraded soil are more related to the considerable quantity of potassic fertilizers that soils get under tobacco farming.

The change in the physical properties is consistent according to Mesa (1992), with the rise in clay contents along the whole profile, associated to the secondary formation of more active clay minerals, as a consequence of the degradation process.bTable 2, shows the results of the irrigation waters analyses.

Table 2

*C.E: Electrical Conductivity

It can be shown a significantly hardness based on the bicarbonate contents that characterize them; on the other hand, their slightly alkaline reaction represent as well a possible negative effect, derived from the possible salt precipitation to the inside of the irrigation systems and over the cultivated species (Ayers & Wescot, 1987).

That undesired second effect takes on great importance in the case of tobacco, because of the leaf being the yield aim. The significant accumulation of calcium in water irrigation constitutes a phenomenon associated to change in its quality, as an input for farming: its cause is rooted in depletion of sources and aquifers, in the occurrence of phenomena of sea intrusion, derived from a long-and-narrow-shaped island as Cuba and from long periods of drought that already affect the country, also as expression of the climate change effects that, according to what has been forecast by the INSMET, it will involve reductions up to 50% of typical rainfall during the wet season in the country.

The described situation with regards to the irrigation water quality and their effects over the farming quality in Cuba western Red Ferralitic soils. However, has also been approached from different perspectives by several authors: Valiente, Lobo & Palenzuela (2010), and Febles et al., (2014), among others.

Table 3, presents modeling results of the water quality effects in different category soils with respect to degradation.

Table 3

*SST: Total Soluble Salts

It is shown that, regardless of the period of intervention and the source of origin, irrigation facilitated the retention of calcium and the total soluble solids. Thus, the variations detected in the water analysis results keep a strong relationship with the results of soil analysis (Table 4).

Table 4

Y1: Hydrolytic acidity; R: Irrigation; Ll: rainfall

The explanation might be in the occurrence of typical transformation processes in soils of the Ferralitic genetic group (Ferralsol), which according to Gardi, Angelini, Barceló, Comerma, Cruz Gaistardo & Vargas, (2014), involve a strong weathering that leads to the loss of the majority of weathering minerals and to the washing of great quantities of siliceous and basic cations as it is shown in table 3. It is for this reason, many authors explain, that these soils are distinguished by the presence of stable compounds, such as kaolinite, aluminum and iron oxides, being the latter responsible for the red colour that identifies this genetic group.

This is the explanation for the pH increase ~ similar to the one that categorizes today the greater part of soils used in the tobacco productions and other farming in the Artemisa province ~the decrease of contents of potassium, sodium and magnesium as well as for the increase of calcium presence that is shown in table 4; such variations are due to transformations in soil structure (Mesa, 1992) and validate the design of the experiment and with it the hypothesis that degradation of soils in the "Partido" area are subjected to quality of irrigation water and the insufficient rainfall in this territory.

However, one should recognize as well that the absence of agroecological management practices and the intense and continuous regime of farming exploitation have also played a role in the decline of such an important natural resource (González et al., 2010; Cánepa et al., 2012).

It should be noted that the evolution of soil properties subjected to the regime of simulated irrigation and rainfall leads to changes in its classification at gender level; thus the original soil would classify as moderately desaturated Red Ferralitic (Hernández et al., 1995), only based on the effects of the simulation period equivalent to 10 years: it should be pointed out that with the treatment that models irrigation effects for 35 years, the degree of base saturation gets to 98%.

It should me mentioned that for the same soil subject to degradation factors in time, it is observed one inverse and statistically significant relationship between the pH (in water) and the hydrolytic acidity (Figure 3).

This can

A similar conclusion was offered by Mesa et al., (1992), for Red Ferralitic soils in general along the stretch of the Red Plain Havana-Matanzas.

Mineralogical composition

In the surface horizon of the Red Ferralitic soil in the "Partido" tobacco growing area occurred significant changes in the mineralogical composition of fraction ≤ 2 mm, under the effects of degradation processes (Figure 4).

Figure 4

These changes are reflected in the decrease of peaks related to quartz and the appearance of gibbsite. Likewise in the semiquantitative characterization of this fraction (Table 5).

Table 5

(-) Undetected

It is observed that quartz decreased by 2.25 times and goethite 1.7 times. On the other hand, the gibbsite was detected that was not present previously and the kaolinite rose by 1.44 times.

These differences seem to be related with the environment pedochemical conditions, where a significant increase in pH and calcium values have occurred. Yongue-Fouateu, Yemefack, Wouatong, Ndjigui, & Bilong (2009), described the effect of drainage in the formation of clay minerals, highlighting the necessity of a good drainage for the formation of kaolinite and gibbsite, as it happens under the conditions of the "Partido" tobacco growing area.

For the clay fraction (≤2 μm) similar changes are observed in the mineralogical composition of Red Ferralitic soils under the effects of degradation processes (Figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5

Here, the

The semiquantitative composition of clay fraction (≤ 2 μm) shows that under the effect of degradation processes a decrease in the presence of goethite (3.2 times) and kaolinite (1.7 times) occurs while the maghemite increases almost to double (1.95 times) and the gibbsite appears (Table 6).

Table 6

(-) Undetected

This result coincides with Macías (1981), who describes the formation of gibbsite in periods of time relatively short and under different climate conditions. The conditions for the formation and stability of goethite and maghemite in soils are inverse and the rise of pH, as it occurs in the Red Ferralitic soils of the "Partido" tobacco region, favours the formation of the latter, while the first tends to decrease.

The presence of gibbsite involves changes in the soil classification at gender level and explains or provides elements over the fact that for soils classified as Red Ferralitic in the current Artemisa province, over the last 20 years the presence of saturated gender areas has increased by 93% for soils of the typical subtype and by 72% for the compacted subtype and in the entirety for the hydrated and leached subtypes, reported by Trémols et al., (2013).

Degradation of tobacco soils classified as Red Ferralitic in the "Partido" area (Artemisa province, Cuba) affects 89.56% of the total farming area. Soil affectation typifies by the increase of pH to moderately alkaline, the accumulation of calcium and the high saturation by bases, taking place along the whole soil profile. The modeling work carried out with irrigation allowed to identify as the degradation responsible agent of these tobacco soils the hardness of irrigation water and the insufficient rainfall in the territory.