Respiración edáfica de los suelos de páramo de Pungalá-sub cuenca río Chambo.

Abstract

The objective of this research is to determine the edaphic respiration (ER) of the intervened and non-intervened soils of the Pungalá moorland, river Chambo sub-basin and its relationship with the physicochemical characteristics of the soil (Apparent density, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, colour, and texture). 7 aggregates corresponding to intervened areas and 5 to nonintervened areas were sampled using the quartering method established in the United Nations Program Field Manual 2012. The soil respiration samples were taken at a depth of 0-15 cm and 0-30 cm for the physicochemical characteristics of the soil. Edaphic respiration tests were performed in triplicate using the acid-base titration volumetric method, and for the physicochemical properties of the soil, it was used the methodology established by the Research and Development Group for the Environment and Climate Change (GIDAC). For the analysis of the results, non-parametric tests were used using the RStudio 4.1.0 software, determining that the soils of Pungalá in the non-intervened areas present a higher median RE (0.13 ug CO2-C/g per hour) than in areas intervened (0.07 ug CO2 -C/g per hour), the physicochemical properties presented a weak correlation for the apparent density (0.13), pH (-0.17) and soil organic carbon (-0.096). However, for electrical conductivity, it presented a high correlation (0.26). The hypothesis, there is a significant difference in the quantification of edaphic respiration in intervened and non-intervened areas of the soils in the sub-basin of the river Chambo in Pungalá and the most influential physicochemical property was electrical conductivity is accepted. It is recommended to carry out periodic investigations of the soil respiration of the Chimborazo Soils to know the state and management of the soil.