Fertilising techniques and nutrient balances in the agriculture industrialization transition: The case of sugarcane in the Cauca river valley (Colombia), 1943-2010

The positive N balance in the four analysed years suggests that this element has been historically over applied. This has caused not only high production costs, but also, water and atmospheric pollution. The study of fertilisation systems is, therefore, essential to understand agrarian growth and the process of agricultural intensification. Calculations of N, P and K budgets can be helpful for understanding agroecosystem functioning and proposing more sustainable management strategies.