Evaluación de carbono orgánico y cambios de uso de suelo mediante análisis multitemporal de la parroquia Licto, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

Licto town suffers problems of land use and vegetation cover change, producing environmental impacts such as environmental degradation and loss of vegetation cover. Therefore, organic carbon and land use changes were evaluated through a multitemporal analysis in Licto town situated in Chimborazo province. The methodology implemented was qualitative and quantitative, applying the deductive method verifying percentages of organic carbon (%OC). Also, the inductive study was applied to determine factors that affect the change in land use. The % OC was obtained in the high zone, which presented a higher percentage in forest soils a 10 cm with 3.39 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

. In 30 and 60 cm, the agricultural soils presented 2.48 and 2.58 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

. In the middle zone, it presented a higher percentage in forest soils at 10 cm with 3.46 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

. At 30 cm, it was higher in pasture soils with 2.70 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

, and at 60 cm it was higher in pasture and agricultural soils with 2.63 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

.In the lower zone, at 10 cm it was higher in the forest soils with 2.97 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

. At 30 cm, it was in the pasture soil with 2.25 .cm−2 . cm − 2

, and at 60 cm with 2.00 g.cm−2 g . cm − 2

. The soil cover sample showed a loss of area in the pasture in the winter. In the summer, the agricultural zone showed an increase in area. Within the period 1990 to 2020, Soil use and multitemporal analysis of the three zones of the town were characterized. The %CO was more present in the lower zone of the town, while the multitemporal analysis showed an increase in the agricultural class II due to the increase in the population. This is one of the main activities carried out in the town.