Author(s)

FABRICIO VEINTIMILLA RIZO, LADY BRAVO-MONTERO, JOSELYNE SOLÓRZANO, MARCELO CALVACHE ULLOA, JAIME PROAÑO-SARAGURO, JUAN SILVA NOWAT, PAÚL CARRIÓN-MERO

Abstract

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) is one of the world’s most valuable spices, used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. This crop faces challenges that affect pod yield and quality. Hence, there is a need for efficient irrigation management and soil and foliar nutrition, particularly in water-deficient areas, as is the case in the study area, which comprises the Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. This research aims to evaluate nutrition and irrigation management in vanilla cultivation by analysing climatological, soil and plant tissue data to optimise fruit productivity and quality. The methodology consisted of three phases. First, the sampling and analysis of soil and plant tissue for physical and chemical parameters (macro- and micronutrients). Second, the design of a fertilisation plan and monitoring of the crop’s nutritional and physiological status. Third, optimising water resources through a drip irrigation system. This study found that the vanilla crop showed deficiencies in nitrogen (N = 0.12%), phosphorus (P = 0.4%), and organic matter (OM = 1.48%), as well as micronutrient imbalances. These conditions indicate low-fertility soils in an area with a low incidence of plant diseases, which enabled the design of a nutritional plan to optimise crop management and productivity. An adjusted fertilisation plan was implemented, which contributed to increased vegetative growth in roots, branches (>3 cm), leaves (>5 cm), and pods (>4 cm). A drip irrigation system was selected, applied in pulses, and adjusted to water demand, optimising water use by approximately 25% and reducing plant stress. The research demonstrated that integrating soil and climate analyses to tailor nutrition and irrigation significantly increased vanilla growth, yield, and quality. The application of technical nutrition and irrigation strategies tailored to the local environment is a crucial tool for producers seeking more sustainable, profitable, and competitive vanilla production.

Keywords

crop efficiency, water management, irrigation, sustainability, decision-making