Determinación de la respiración edáfica en el páramo de Igualata, provincia de Chimborazo, Ecuador

Abstract

The current study determined the edaphic respiration (ER) in the Igualata paramo, located in Guano county. Fifteen study points were established, each point represents a plot, corresponding to ninety soil samples obtained at depths from 0 to 30cm and from 30 to 60cm. The edaphic respiration and physicochemical properties (organic carbon percentage, organic matter percentage, pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, humidity percentage) were analyzed in triplicate for each plot. The average results for ER were 0.59 microg CO2- C/g per hour. For organic carbon, 2.61 % was obtained at the depth from 0 to 30 cm and 2.53 % at the depth from 30 to 60 cm. regarding the organic matter a value of 4.50 % was obtained at the depth from 0 to 30 cm and 4.36 % for the following depth. Humidity reflected average values of 33.53% at a depth from 0 to 30cm and 33.35% at the next depth, electrical conductivity values of 34.03 and 33.52 microS/cm for a depth from 30 to 60cm, bulk density revealed similar average values at both depths, pH ranges from 5 to 6 at both depths. It is concluded that there are no significant correlations between edaphic respiration and physicochemical properties due to the conditions of the study area, either environmental or soil conditions. It is recommended to carry out temporal studies in order to demonstrate the changes in the ecosystems and soil of these areas which have ecological interest.