Abstract

OSCANOA, Luis  and  FLORES, Enrique. Influence of soil improvement techniques on water function of andean rangelands. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2016, vol.15, n.2, pp.91-99. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v15i2.748.

Research was performed in degraded native grasslands in the rural community of Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz _ Peru. The objective was to study the influence of improvement techniques (T) on the ecological status (Ee), hydrological recovery (H) and erosion control (Er) of very poor condition grasslands. The experimental design was completely randomized with a factorial arrangement of 3 techniques x 6 seasons sampling by study parameter. The Ee (vegetation, biomass and mulch), H (infiltration, soil moisture and temperature) and Er were studied during the two years of research. Results showed that in the short term the poorest range condition did not change, except in the other parameters. Rainy season plots with furrows got better plant performance than pits and community use (aerial biomass: 1755, 1562 and 1067 kg dm/ha; mulch: 402, 388 and 305 kg dm/ha, respectively). The same order was observed in the hydrological response through the soil temperature parameter (11, 10.7 y 10°C), moisture content (20.8, 20.4 y 16.6%) and infiltration rate (0.120, 0.110 y 0.065 cm/min). The results suggested that the improvement in floristic and hydrological function must have controlled the soil erosion in plots treated with grooves and pits. We conclude that poor grassland recovery is slow; soil moisture, biomass and infiltration is highly sensitive; and technical groove and pits are accessible options for improving degraded grasslands. It is recommended to study the interaction of soil moisture with plant species for the ecohydrological improvement of Andean rangeland types.

Keywords : Andean rangelands; water function; furrows; pits; control erosion.

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