"Evaluación del Impacto Ambiental en los Pastizales Producidos por el Proceso Eruptivo del Volcán Tungurahua en la Hacienda Choglontus"

Abstract

An environmental impact assessment in the grasslands produced by the Tungurahua Volcano eruptive process was done to the "Choglontus" farm located in "El Manzano" Community that belongs to Penipe parish by using descriptive statistics of means and percentages; to accomplish the purpose a pre, during and after audit was performed to make evident the existing impacts. According to the results obtained, it is considered that the effects of the Tungurahua volcano eruption significantly influence the environment polluting the air, soil and water because it destroys the vegetation in the grasslands and the surroundings; it also provokes diseases in the animals and contaminates the water with the ashes. The analysis of different samples of the water in the rivers showed a pH that is very close to neutral, with a very low level of total nitrogen meanwhile dissolved solids an chlorides are very high. Currently the soil at "Choglontus" farm is occupied by some species like "kikuyu" (a strapping grass which spreads by rhizomes), ray grass and blue grass that have adapted to the adverse conditions and have become a good alternative to feed the cattle. In general, the analyzed ashes correspond to an inert material with a low nutrients concentration available. The resulting soil is poorer than the underlying soil and therefore it cannot be considered as a good nutritional source. Although in a previous research done it has been demonstrated that after several years this process will be reversed and it will turn into a much productive one. It is recommended to develop agricultural work in the grasslands of this farm to keep the fertility of the soil and its capacity to produce grain and forage.