The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo

The Ecuadorian páramo is characterized by unique soil properties that allow the ground to hold large amounts of water. These páramo grasslands support Andean cities and communities as a source of water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. Although recent research has suggested that chang...

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Main Author: Hartsig, James Joseph
Format: Others
Published: Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/978
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spelling ndltd-UTENN-oai-trace.tennessee.edu-utk_gradthes-20722011-12-13T16:24:29Z The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo Hartsig, James Joseph The Ecuadorian páramo is characterized by unique soil properties that allow the ground to hold large amounts of water. These páramo grasslands support Andean cities and communities as a source of water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. Although recent research has suggested that changes in land use can decrease the amount of water and affect the water-holding capabilities of the soil, the hydrologic effects of different land uses, including burning for livestock grazing and pine planting for carbon credits, are currently under debate. This research tested hypotheses about moisture-related properties of páramo soils under different land uses at two study areas in Ecuador. Bulk density, volumetric water content, water retention, and general physical properties were identified and compared between sites at those study areas. Soil structure differed between pine sites and other sites at both study areas, and moisture consistency differed between pine and other sites at the Mazar Wildlife Reserve. Volumetric water content values were high (mean of 86% at one Mazar site) but the pine sites contained less water by volume than the other sites. Water retention data showed that the surface horizons of all sites at both study areas require more pressure to release moisture than the subsurface horizons. Compared to other sites studied, the pine sites from both study areas have lower gravimetric water contents at saturation through -6.0 kPa. Different burning regimes do not appear to affect soil properties, in-situ moisture content, or water-retention capacity. The introduction of pine plantations in the páramo at both study areas appears to have lowered soil moisture contents and reduced bulk density in the soil profile. This research adds to a growing group of studies that show that changes in land management can affect the hydrological properties of soils. 2011-05-01 text application/pdf http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/978 Masters Theses Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Soil Andisols Paramo Hydrological Ecuador Andes Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Environmental Monitoring Physical and Environmental Geography Soil Science
collection NDLTD
format Others
sources NDLTD
topic Soil
Andisols
Paramo
Hydrological
Ecuador
Andes
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment
Environmental Monitoring
Physical and Environmental Geography
Soil Science
spellingShingle Soil
Andisols
Paramo
Hydrological
Ecuador
Andes
Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment
Environmental Monitoring
Physical and Environmental Geography
Soil Science
Hartsig, James Joseph
The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
description The Ecuadorian páramo is characterized by unique soil properties that allow the ground to hold large amounts of water. These páramo grasslands support Andean cities and communities as a source of water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural use. Although recent research has suggested that changes in land use can decrease the amount of water and affect the water-holding capabilities of the soil, the hydrologic effects of different land uses, including burning for livestock grazing and pine planting for carbon credits, are currently under debate. This research tested hypotheses about moisture-related properties of páramo soils under different land uses at two study areas in Ecuador. Bulk density, volumetric water content, water retention, and general physical properties were identified and compared between sites at those study areas. Soil structure differed between pine sites and other sites at both study areas, and moisture consistency differed between pine and other sites at the Mazar Wildlife Reserve. Volumetric water content values were high (mean of 86% at one Mazar site) but the pine sites contained less water by volume than the other sites. Water retention data showed that the surface horizons of all sites at both study areas require more pressure to release moisture than the subsurface horizons. Compared to other sites studied, the pine sites from both study areas have lower gravimetric water contents at saturation through -6.0 kPa. Different burning regimes do not appear to affect soil properties, in-situ moisture content, or water-retention capacity. The introduction of pine plantations in the páramo at both study areas appears to have lowered soil moisture contents and reduced bulk density in the soil profile. This research adds to a growing group of studies that show that changes in land management can affect the hydrological properties of soils.
author Hartsig, James Joseph
author_facet Hartsig, James Joseph
author_sort Hartsig, James Joseph
title The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
title_short The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
title_full The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
title_fullStr The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
title_full_unstemmed The Effects of Land-Use Change on the Hydrological Properties of Andisols in the Ecuadorian Paramo
title_sort effects of land-use change on the hydrological properties of andisols in the ecuadorian paramo
publisher Trace: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange
publishDate 2011
url http://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/978
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