This study discusses the optimization of municipal solid waste management through the implementation of automated waste sorting systems, comparing two advanced artificial intelligence methodologies: Vertex AI and convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures, developed using TensorFlow. Automated solid waste classification is presented as an innovative technological approach that leverages advanced algorithms to accurately identify and segregate materials, addressing the inherent limitations of conventional sorting methods, such as high labor dependency, inaccuracies in material separation, and constrained scalability for processing large waste volumes. A system was designed for the classification of paper, plastic, and metal waste, integrating an Arduino Uno microcontroller, a Raspberry Pi, a high-resolution camera, and a robotic manipulator. The system was evaluated based on performance metrics including classification accuracy, response time, scalability, and implementation cost. The findings revealed that Xception achieved a flawless classification accuracy of 100% with an average processing time of 0.25 s, whereas Vertex AI, with an accuracy of 90% and a response time of 2 s, exceled in cloud scalability, making it ideal for resource-constrained environments. The findings highlight Xception’s superiority in high-precision applications and Vertex AI’s adaptability in scenarios demanding flexible deployment, advancing efficient and sustainable waste management solutions.

Resumen En Ecuador, el cultivo de pimiento es de gran importancia a nivel socioeconómico, ya que representa una fuente de ingresos para los agricultores. El propósito de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto bioestimulante de algunos microorganismos sobre la germinación in vitro de genotipos híbridos de semillas de pimiento Yolo Wonder y Marcono dulce largo. El experimento se realizó con un diseño completamente aleatorizado mediante cinco tratamientos, cinco repeticiones y quince unidades experimentales por repetición. Los tratamientos T0 (Control), T1 (Trichoderma harzianum), T2 (Azotobacter vinelandii), T3 (Bacillus polymyxa) y T4 (Azospirillum brasilense) se inocularon en cajas Petri con una almohadilla absorbente de poliestireno en concentración 1 x 109 UFC/ml con dosis de 35 mg/10 ml en agua destilada a la siembra y al séptimo día. Se evaluaron las variables porcentaje de germinación, emergencia de la radícula y el coleóptilo, peso de la plántula y longitud de la radícula y el coleóptilo. El análisis de datos se realizó mediante un análisis de varianza ANOVA y la comparación de medias de Tukey al 5 % de probabilidad de error. Se observaron efectos significativos sobre las variables estudiadas con la inoculación de las diferentes cepas de microorganismos, siendo el tratamiento T4 el que mostró mejores resultados, y no se obtuvieron diferencias al utilizar diversos genotipos de pimiento. Es importante destacar que esta investigación se realizó en condiciones específicas y con genotipos particulares de semillas de pimiento. Por lo tanto, los resultados pueden variar en otras condiciones y con diferentes genotipos bajo el efecto bioestimulante de los microorganismos sobre la germinación in vitro de semillas híbridas de pimiento.

This research seeks to understand the impact of herbicides on beneficial soil microorganisms, essential for agricultural health, and contribute to more sustainable management practices. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of herbicides commonly used in conventional agriculture, such as glyphosate, paraquat, and MCPA, on the growth of beneficial soil microorganisms. The microorganisms were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a CCN-51 cacao crop from a production farm in Ecuador, and identified through morphological characterization and molecular analysis. The detected beneficial microorganisms were seeded in culture media with field-used doses of the different herbicides mentioned above, and mycelial growth in fungi (Trichoderma asperellum) and colony extension in bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens) were evaluated. The results showed that the herbicides had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of these beneficial microorganisms. In the case of T. asperellum, paraquat and MCPA showed greater mycelial inhibition compared to glyphosate. Furthermore, all three herbicides significantly reduced the growth of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens, in contrast to the control groups, which maintained constant growth. These findings suggest that the herbicides studied may have a negative impact on the growth dynamics of beneficial microorganisms, which could affect the balance of the agricultural ecosystem. These results highlight the importance of considering the potential effects of herbicides on the soil microbiota in the management of sustainable agricultural systems.

The excessive and inappropriate use of synthetic fertilizers has the potential to cause significant environmental and economic issues. The utilization of biofertilizers represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative for the enhancement of crop productivity. Accordingly, the present study evaluated the productive and economic behavior of applying biofertilizers on hybrid corn DAS 3383 under a completely random block design, with five treatments and three repetitions. The following treatments were employed: a control treatment devoid of any fertilization (CONTROL), a conventional treatment comprising NPK fertilization (NPK), a treatment incorporating 5 % biofertilizer (5BIO), a treatment incorporating 15 % biofertilizer (15BIO), and a treatment incorporating 25 % biofertilizer (25BIO). At the 90-day mark, the NPK treatment exhibited the greatest plant height (272.81 cm), while at the 108-day interval, the cob insertion height (170.40 cm) was also the highest. However, the 25BIO treatment yielded the most optimal results in terms of cob length (14.29 cm), diameter (6.07 cm), 1,000-grain weight (31.70 g), and yield (9 t.ha-1). This treatment also demonstrated the highest net benefit ($2,019.10) and favorable profitability (72 %) compared to the other treatments. The results of the orthogonal contrast analysis indicate that there are significant linear effects for the majority of variables, with no discernible quadratic effects. This evidence substantiates the potential of biofertilizers in enhancing maize crop productivity. By repurposing organic waste from the agricultural sector and employing it as an alternative to chemical fertilizers, these findings contribute to the advancement of more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices. Keywords: organic fertilizer, genotype, seed, organic waste, profitability.

Integrated weed management strategies are crucial to reduce crop production costs. The objective was to compare weed control techniques according to their efficiency and profitability in rice cultivation during the rainy and dry seasons. It was carried out under the quasi-experimental modality with the Student's t-test under a descriptive research type. Structured questionnaires were administered to 70 rice farmers in the area. Weeds were identified in areas every 10 m² within the rice crop, 10 and 15 days after sowing. The efficiency (E) of weed management in rice crops was calculated by applying the formula % efficiency=1 MP/Mt*100. The results showed that manual weeding has a monthly frequency, being used both in the rainy season (40 %) and in the dry season (44 %). The frequency of herbicide application was adjusted to the crop stage in the rainy season (39 %) and in the dry season (46 %). The efficiency (E) using the mechanical method was below one month during the rainy and dry seasons, registering 43%. Manual weeding showed an E of 49 % in the rainy season and 42 % in the dry season for up to 30 days. The combination of herbicides: Metsulfuron-methyl + Quinclorac; pyrazosulfuron-ethyl + Quinclorac, exhibited an E greater than 80 %, for more than 30 days in both seasons. The highest profitability was in the rainy season, thus presenting mechanized control USD 0.09 in rainfall and USD 0.04 in drought, chemical control USD 0.09 in rainfall and USD 0.07 in drought, and manual weeding USD 0.10 in rainfall and USD 0.06 in drought, for every dollar spent during the cultivation of rice. Keywords: weed control, control effectiveness, integrated weed management, profitability, economic valuation.

Necrotrophic fungi are pathogens that cause tissue death in plants, which negatively impacts their growth and productivity. This study focused on identifying the presence of Lasiodiplodia theobromae in CCN-51 cacao plants in the Simón Bolívar canton in Ecuador. We sampled cacao pods exhibiting necrotic lesions and obtained fungal isolates for morphological and molecular characterization. Techniques, such as culturing on selective media, microscopy, and DNA sequencing were used to confirm the fungal identity. We compared our results with international databases and assessed the genetic variability of the isolates. Morphological characterization placed the fungal isolates within the family Botryosphaeriaceae, and molecular analysis using ITS and EF1-α regions confirmed the species as Lasiodiplodia theobromae, with 100% DNA quality for amplicon analysis and 100% sequence similarity in GenBank. We constructed phylogenetic trees using maximum likelihood methods, which revealed high genetic similarity and recent divergence among sequences despite their varied geographic origins. The fungal isolates specifically confirmed the presence of L. theobromae as the causal agent of necrotic lesions in CCN-51 cacao pods from Simón Bolívar. These findings underscore the importance of studying necrotrophic fungi in cacao plants to inform control strategies, improve crop resistance, and support sustainable production, essential to the global cacao trade.