Abstract

WALTEROS-TORRES, Ingrid et al. Influence of land use change on soil organic carbon stocks in the Parque Natural Regional Cortadera, Boyacá (Colombia). rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2022, vol.25, n.2, e1846.  Epub Aug 03, 2022. ISSN 0123-4226.  https://doi.org/10.31910/rudca.v25.n2.2022.1846.

The paramos accumulate high stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), influenced by the climatic and biogeochemical conditions of the ecosystem. However, their progressive conversion to crops, livestock, or mining has a direct impact on the SOC stocks. To determine the effect of land use change on the variability of SOC stocks, monitoring of SOC content was conducted between the years 2013, 2018, and 2020 in the Parque Natural Regional Cortadera. Permanent sampling plots (PPS) located under three different land uses were studied: conserved, recovering, and intervened. To do so, samples of soil organic carbon and bulk density at two depths were analyzed (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm). The conserved PPS showed the highest SOC contents, with maximum values of 290.37; 199.22, and 257.5 tC ha-1 for each of the years under study; follow by the recovery PPM that presented COS values of 215.3 tC ha-1 in 2020, in contrast to the intervened PSP that showed minimum contents of 15.50; 34.01 and 88.06 tC ha-1. Furthermore, the highest SOC contents were found at 15-30 cm depth. These factors emphasize the importance of carrying out actions focused on protecting strategic ecosystems such as paramos, taking into account the continuous threats related to the transformation of the landscape and, consequently, the possibility of providing ecosystem functions and services related to carbon capture and climate regulation.

Keywords : Ecosystem services; Environmental Monitoring; Land use change; Organic carbon; Paramo.

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