Final report : Cornell University subcontract, contract no. 525-0180-C-00-2015, project no. 525-0180

The SPS initiated a benchmark soils project in which basic information on 17 of the country"s most representative agricultural soils was gathered, permitting soil samples to be tentatively classified, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture; a draft report on this effort is appended to the present report. The SPS also participated in soil fertility evaluations at the soil testing laboratory in Divisa; this effort included preparing bulletins on lime and fertilizer recommendations, field trials with multiple cropping systems on subsistence farms, and experiments with rice varieties, phosphorus, cassava, pasture grasses, and legumes. The SPS also initiated systematic weather gathering and analysis activities aimed at assessing the impact of weather on crop performance at most IDIAP experimental stations and at studying soil temperature during the dry and rainy seasons. Other SPS activities included interacting with visiting scientists from Cornell and presenting a seminar on soil taxonomy to staff from IDIAP and the Ministry of Agricultural and Livestock Development (MIDA). Reports on SPS research are forthcoming. In the SPS"s judgment, IDIAP is conducting limited but important research. Problem areas are the lack of coordinated soils research program at the national level and the paucity of published information on soil fertility and soil management, which is hindering continuity in research and extension. Recommendations are to: upgrade the soil testing facilities at Divisa; support soil testing and field soil fertility studies, including necessary training; increase research in Panama"s central region to identify plant species efficient in using nutrients from high aluminum saturation and low phosphorus soils and to develop low technology methods of improving soil amendments; conduct research on aluminum toxicity and efficient use of fertilizer phosphorus; establish a data base for soil, crop, and weather data; and update a soil resource inventory.