Soil properties between pure and mixed Nothofagus forests in different landscapes of Tierra del Fuego.

M TORO; R SOLER ESTEBAN; MV LENCINAS; MD BARRERA; A PROMIS; G MARTÍNEZ PASTUR

Temuco

Congreso; Congreso Latinoamericano de IUFRO Landscape Ecology y Segundo Congreso Latinoamericano de IALE.; 2016

IUFRO IALE UFRO

Nothofagus pumilio and N. betuloides, forest species of Southern Patagonia, share distribution and frequently form patches of mixed forests, whose soils have similar characteristics to both types of forest. A landscape scale, the different processes of soil formation influence are mostly on said composition (nutrients and structure). These relationships can be contrasting when making sustainable management of ecosystems, from ecological and economic terms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of soils and relationships between pure forests N. pumilio (Np), N. betuloides (Nb) and mixed forests (M) in coastal and mountain landscapes in Tierra del Fuego. Sixty soil samples were taken at 10 cm depth (30 samples in each landscape x 20 for each forest type). It was performed nutrient analysis (C, N and P), organic matter, pH and CIC. Furthermore, it was measured compaction, texture, apparent density, temperature and soil moisture. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and multivariate analysis. The nutrient content was similar among forest types, but the differences were significantly contrasting between landscapes. The %P is higher in coastal sites, particularly in the forests of Np, significant differences are shown. The C/N ratio is greater coastal and the pH and CIC is higher in the mountain sites. The pH shows variability among forest types with higher value of acidity from Nb>M>Np. The organic matter content no significant differences between forest types and landscape. It was detected significant differences in physical properties between the coast and mountain sites. Mountain sites have high percentage of sand, with greater CIC, apparent density and soil moisture. In contrast, the composition in coastal sites was silty-clay accompanied by a high resistance to compaction. It is concluded that soil properties although not significantly vary between types of forests, if significant differences landscape level were observed.