Caracterización de los productores del litoral sur del país en función de la adopción e implementación de cultivos de servicio

Agricultural expansion in Uruguay from the beginning of the 21st century to the present has carried to accelerated soil degradation, causing losses due to erosion, explained by a scheme based on continuous agriculture, monoculture systems, and intensification of agricultural practices. With the aim of regulating this problem, in 2013 the Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (MGAP) launched the Responsible Land Use and Management Plans. The mandatory nature of the regulations materialized in the inclusion of service crops in agricultural rotations. This work aims to characterize the producers of the southern region and western coast of Uruguay in terms of adoption and implementation of service crops. Surveys were conducted with producers and technicians, collecting data on experiences, perceptions and practices related to service crops. The results revealed that the majority of producers/technicians have a positive view of the benefits of including service crops in their agricultural rotation, highlighting their importance in soil conservation, weed control and carbon contribution. Producers who use the technology are characterized by using pure grasses as the main species, especially white oats, black oats and ryegrass; that are planted post-harvest with a seeder and are finished with chemical control. There is a tendency not to graze the service crops, which reflects that agricultural activity is not integrated into livestock systems. Technical decisions are made independently of the type of land tenure and the geographic area where the fields are located. The main difficulty for its widespread adoption is related to the cost or necessary investment, because it does not generate short-term economic benefits. Although the mandatory nature of the regulations has led to raising awareness about the sustainability of soil resources, the generation and dissemination of information linked to the use and management of service crops in agricultural systems is still necessary.