Temporal and spatial distribution of soil moisture and roots of herbaceous plants and ñire (Nothofagus antarctica) trees under silvopastoral use in Southern Patagonia

BAHAMONDE H.; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR G.; LENCINAS M.V.; SOLER R.; LOVATO S.; PERI P.L.

Evora

Congreso; World Congress Silvopastoral Systems; 2016

Silvopastoral World Congress

In southern Patagonia 70% of ñire forest are under silvopastoral use, where interactions between trees and herbaceous plants influence over the system performance. One of the most limiting factors in forage production in Patagonia is the soil water availability. The objective of this study was to quantify the temporal and spatial distribution of soil moisture and fine roots (herbaceous plants and trees) in ñire forests under silvopastoral use. Seasonal measurements of volumetric soil moisture (VSM) at two depths (0.0-0.2 and 0.2-0.4 m) were carried out during four years in stands of ñire with different crown cover (CC) (0%, 35% and 65 %) with two replicates (n = 6 stands). Soil samples were also collected to determine fine roots through a cylindrical hauger at the beginning (spring) and the end of the growing season (late summer). Fine roots were separated and classified in tree and herbaceous roots and weighted to obtain the quantity of roots per unit of volume. VSM was higher (P