[en] Horticultural systems, highly intensified and dependent on external inputs, face environmental and food safety challenges due to inadequate management. In the Buenos Aires green belt, signs of degradation have been reported in horticultural soils, leading some farmers to adopt agroecological approaches. However, studies on the impact of horticultural management on soil health are scarce. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of continuous peri-urban horticulture in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires, by a) diagnosing soil quality in family horticultural productions and b) conducting field experiments, to promote agricultural practices that reduce the environmental impact on food production. The level of agroecological transition and soil health in agroecological and conventional horticultural establishments in Florencio Varela were analysed. Then, a field trial was conducted for three years, considering different types of fertilisations (control with no fertilisation, poultry litter and chemical fertiliser) and crops (horticultural and floricultural), followed by natural fallow. The transition level was evaluated with the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation. To study soil health, the following were determined: bulk density (BD), gravimetric moisture (H), aggregate stability (AS), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), extractable phosphorus (EP), basal respiration (BR) and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) from 0- 10 cm depth. The results indicated that although the agroecological transition score was low (39 and 52%), self-defined agroecological farms had higher scores, especially in management and innovation. Also, although horticultural use affected soil quality (reduced TOC and AS, increased pH and EP), agroecological approaches improved AS, TOC and RB with respect to conventional ones. In the field trial, pH and EC increased after the horticultural-floricultural cycle, and natural fallow reduced EC without restoring initial pH values. AS and TOC increased with the addition of poultry litter during the horticultural cycle; after the natural fallow, it remained higher with this same fertilisation. In contrast, the control and chemical fertiliser showed a reduction in TOC with the horticultural-floricultural cycle, and the natural fallow allowed only the plots with chemical fertiliser to recover initial values. Regarding EP, adding poultry litter or chemical fertiliser increased it during the horticultural-floricultural cycle, surpassing the initial values, while no changes were observed in the control. Intense tillage during the horticultural cycle reduced pH, TOC and EP, independently of fertilisation, and the inclusion of fava beans improved AS and RIS. There is still potential to be exploited and limitations to be overcome to improve the quality of soils for fresh food production. The application of appropriate vegetative practices and amendments, and the evaluation of sensitive soil indicators, make it possible to recover and maintain soil health. However, it is necessary to encourage participatory work with producers to implement effective management practices adapted to local conditions.

[gl] Os sistemas hortícolas, altamente intensificados e dependentes de insumos externos, enfrontan desafíos ambientais e de inocuidade alimentaria debido a un manejo inadecuado. En el cinturón verde bonaerense, se han reportado signos de degradación en suelos hortícolas, lo que ha llevado a algunos productores a adoptar enfoques agroecológicos. Sen embargo, son escasos os estudios sobre o impacto do manejo hortícola na saúde do suelo. Polo tanto, este traballo tivo como obxectivo avaliar o efecto da horticultura periurbana continua na Área Metropolitana de Bos Aires, mediante a) o diagnóstico da calidade do chan nas producións hortícolas familiares e b) a realización de experimentos no campo, co fin de promover prácticas agropecuarias que reduzcan o impacto ambiental na produción de alimentos. Se analizou o nivel de transición agroecolóxica e a saúde do suelo en establecementos hortícolas, agroecolóxicos e convencionais, de Florencio Varela. Despois, realizou un ensayo a campo durante tres anos, considerando diferentes tipos de fertilización (sen fertilización, cama de pollo e fertilizante químico) e cultivos (hortícolas e florícolas), seguido de barbecho natural. El nivel de transición se evaluó con la Herramienta para la Evaluación del Desempeño de la Agroecología. Para estudiar la salud del suelo se determinó: densidad aparente (Dap), humedad gravimétrica (H), estabilidad de agregados (EE), pH, conductividad eléctrica (CE), carbono orgánico total (COT), nitrógeno total (NT), fósforo extractable (PE), respiración basal (RB) e respiración inducida por substrato (RIS) de 0-10 cm de profundidade. Os resultados indicaron que, aínda que o nivel de transición agroecolóxica foi baixo (39 e 52 %), os establecementos agroecolóxicos presentaron puntuacións máis altas, especialmente en xestión e innovación. Asimismo, si ben o uso hortícola afectou a calidade do chan (rexunto COT e EE, elevou pH e PE), os enfoques agroecolóxicos melloraron EE, COT e RB respecto aos convencionais. No ensayo a campo, pH e CE aumentaron despois do ciclo horti-florícola, e o barbecho natural redujo CE sen restaurar os valores iniciais do pH. EE y COT se incrementaron con el agregado de cama de pollo durante el ciclo horti-florícola, luego del barbecho natural se mantuvo superior con esta misma fertilización. En contraste, testigo e fertilizante químico mostraron redución de COT co ciclo hortiflorícola e, o barbecho natural permitiu que só as parcelas con fertilizante químico recuperaran valores iniciais. Respecto a PE, agregar cama de pollo e fertilizante químico o aumentaron durante o ciclo hortiflorícola, superando os valores iniciais, mentres que en testemuño non se observaron cambios. O traballo intenso durante o ciclo horti-florícola redujo pH, COT e PE, independentemente da fertilización e da inclusión de habas mellorou EE e RIS. Aún hai potencial por explotar e limitacións por superar para mellorar a calidade dos chans destinados á produción de alimentos frescos. A aplicación de prácticas vexetativas e enmiendas adecuadas e a avaliación dos indicadores do chan máis sensibles permiten recuperar e manter a súa saúde. Pero, é necesario fomentar o traballo participativo cos produtores para implementar prácticas de manejo efectivos e adaptadas ás condicións locais.