Determinación de la respiración edáfica en zona alta del cantón Chambo, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

This research was carried out in summer to provide elements and information on edaphic respiration in the upper area of the Chambo canton, therefore, the CO2 content (ug CO2-C / g per hour) was quantified to establish a correlation with the physicochemical properties in samples of intervened and non-intervened soils. Using ArcGIS, 13 clusters were determined in an area of 15,900 hectares, seven intervened zones (onion, potato, and grass cultivation) and six non- intervened zones (pajonal) and 39 composite samples. The soil sample for edaphic respiration (titration method) was taken at 0-15 cm, for carbon and the physicochemical properties (organic matter, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, pH, humidity and apparent density) at 0-30cm following the established methodology. by the Ministry of the Environment and UN-REDD +, 2012. The average results of edaphic respiration in untreated soils (3600-4200 m.s.n.m) are 0.18 micrograms CO2-C / g per hour and in intervened soils (2800-3400 m.s.n.m) 0.65 ug CO2-C / g per hour, physical-chemical properties in untreated soils, pH of 6.88, electrical conductivity 39.22 uS / cm, humidity 59.76%, apparent density 0.51 g / cm3, M.O 18.24% and C.O 10.57%; while for the intervened soils, pH de 6.82, electrical conductivity 97.49 uS / cm, humidity 33.98%, apparent density 0.99 g / cm3, M.O 8.24% and C.O 4.77%. It is concluded that the physicochemical properties vary according to (3600-4200 m.s.n.m), which may be due to the edaphoclimatic conditions of each place the type of intervention and CO2 emissions are more evident in the high areas of the canton Chambo. It is recommended to encourage the population and authorities about the main effects caused by the change in land use.