Abstract

OSCANOA, Luis  and  FLORES, Enrique. Effect of grassland ecohydrological improvement techniques on the water performance of high andean micro watershed Urpay. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2019, vol.18, n.1, pp.1-9. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v18i1.1303.

The present work was performed in a deteriorated mountain ecosystem in a peasant community from the Cordillera Blanca, Huaraz - Peru. The objective of the experiment was to develop a study proposal based on the integrated application of pasture condition indexes (C), soil humidity (H), ecohydrological characterization (EH) and improved water performance (RH) using "furrows" and "pits". The C was studied with the Parker method (Parker, 1951), the H with a completely randomized experimental design with a factorial arrangement (3 x 6 times techniques by study parameter) and the RH with the HEC-HMS applicative. The study lasted two years, period in which the improvement of C and H were studied, which constituted base attributes for the ecohydrological mapping (Vulnerability, conservation, hydrological function, water retention) and RH. A very poor C did not show changes but H did (P = 0.000 <0.05). "Furrows" were higher (14.66%) than "pits" (12.95%) and control (10.95%). Ecohydrological mapping of the area (2 449 ha) identified medium (49%), high (29%) and poor (22%) qualities. "Furrows" lost less water flow (1.17 m³.s^-1) than "pits" (1.19 m³.s^-1) and control (1.20 m³.s^-1). It is concluded that ecohydrological characterization provided appropriate indicators for designing conservation plans, restoration and monitoring of micro watersheds; C and H indexes are of high confidence. "Furrows" and "pits" are effective techniques for the restoration of the water function of the pasture.

Keywords : grassland; micro watersheds; ecohydrological; water performance.

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