Abstract

DAZA TORRES, Martha Constanza; HERNANDEZ FLOREZ, Fanny  and  TRIANA, Flor Alba. Effect of Land Use on Water Holding Capacity in the Sumapaz Paramo- Colombia. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2014, vol.67, n.1, pp.7189-7200. ISSN 0304-2847.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v67n1.42642.

Paramo grasslands are important ecosystems due to natural function as water regulator where soils play a fundamental role. However, paramo grasslands are fragile systems and they can be damaged with land uses changes. This work was done to evaluate soil physical changes related to water holding capacity when land uses change. This work was carried on Parque Natural Nacional del Sumapaz located in Cundinamarca Colombia, where a type of representative soil was selected of the same cartographic land unit with different land uses (potato crop, livestock, fallow soil and natural soil with native plants as control), three pits were done by uses, four soil samples from each side pits were taken and soil properties were evaluated as soil water holding, bulk density, total porosity, soil porosity distribution and soil organic matter. Until 60% soil water holding capacity reduction in all of land uses were found; bulk density increased until 16% and total porosity decreased until 23% in all of land uses when they were compared with control. Potato crop and fallow soils showed the lowest values of organic matter content, porosity, field capacity and wilting point water retention and high density values compared to the soil with native vegetation. Land uses changes reduced soil paramo grassland water holding capacity, affecting its environmental role as water regulators.

Keywords : Water holding capacity; soil porosity; soil physical properties.

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