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

HA BAHAMONDE; G MARTÍNEZ PASTUR; MV LENCINAS; R SOLER ESTEBAN; S SOSA LOBATO; E GESTO; PL PERI

Evora

Congreso; World Congress Silvo-pastoral Systems.; 2016

University of Evora

In southern Patagonia 70% of Nothofagus antarctica (ñire) forests are under silvopastoral use, where interactions between trees and herbaceous plants influence over the system performance. One of the limiting factors in forage production 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 m and 0.2-0.4 m) were carried out during four growing season in stands with different crown cover (CC) (0%, 35% and 65%) with two replicas (n = 6 stands). Soil samples were also collected to determine fine roots through a cylindrical galvanized steel sampler (1453 cm3) at the beginning (late spring) and the end of the growing season (late summer). Fine roots (