Influence of land use on hydro-physical soil properties of Andean páramos and its effect on streamflow buffering

Patiño, Soledad; Hernández, Yeleine Almoza; Plata, C.; Domínguez, Isabel; Daza, Martha Constanza; Oviedo-Ocaña, Édgar Ricardo; Buytaert, Wouter; Ochoa‐Tocachi, B. F.

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2021.105227

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…In addition to the four erosion indicators, two soil quality indicators were included: SOC (total soil organic carbon of the uppermost soil horizon, between 5 and 30 cm, in %), and BD (dry bulk density of the topsoil horizon, between 5 and 30 cm, in g cm −3 ). The SOC is the main indicator of soil quality (Franzluebbers, 2002) and is directly linked to key soil functions (Wiesmeier et al, 2019) including soil water retention, erosion prevention and resilience to drought and floods (Paustian et al, 2016). The BD is a commonly reported soil physical property that is related to soil aeration, water and air permeability and soil microporosity (Horn et al, 1995).…”

Section: Database Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

Vanacker

Molina

Rosas

et al. 2022

SOIL

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Abstract. To expand the knowledge base on natural infrastructure for erosion mitigation in the Andes, it is necessary to move beyond case by case empirical studies to comprehensive assessments. This study reviews the state of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to mitigate soil erosion by water and is based on Andean case studies published in gray and peer-reviewed literature. Based on a systematic review of 118 case studies from the Andes, this study addressed the following research questions. (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: restoration and protection of natural vegetation, such as forest or native grasslands, forestation with native or exotic species and implementation of soil and water conservation measures for erosion mitigation. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon of topsoil and soil loss rates at plot scale. The protection and conservation of natural vegetation has the strongest effect on soil quality, with 3.01±0.893 times higher soil organic carbon content in the topsoil compared to control sites. Soil quality improvements are significant but lower for forestation and soil and water conservation measures. Soil and water conservation measures reduce soil erosion to 62.1 % ± 9.2 %, even though erosion mitigation is highest when natural vegetation is maintained. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

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Section: Database Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

Vanacker

Molina

Rosas

et al. 2022

SOIL

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“…Páramo soils have a fundamental role on the hydrological cycle and the provision of ecosystem services in Andean communities (WWF, 2006), particularly for streamflow buffering (Patiño et al, 2021) . However, agricultural activities impair soil properties that sustain these services (Avellaneda-Torres et al, 2018;Dorel et al, 2000).…”

Section: Implications On Hydrological Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although burning, a practice commonly associated with agriculture and grazing, increase the available SOM, without protection, the organic matter is rapidly oxidized and released to the atmosphere in the form of CO 2 , resulting in a progressive loss of SOM (Peña-Quemba et al, 2016). In the short-term, agricultural practices might seem to produce positive changes on soil properties that are useful to increase crop yields; however, in the long-term, these practices deteriorate soil hydrophysical properties (Strudley et al, 2008) and thus their hydrological regulation capacity (Patiño et al, 2021).…”

Section: Implications On Hydrological Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall, soil properties, natural vegetation and hydrological conditions equip páramos with a high capacity to store excess water during wet seasons and sustain flows during scarce dry seasons (Buytaert, Célleri, et al, 2006). This capacity to provide a seasonal buffer of water flows is known as hydrological regulation (Minaya, Corzo, Solomatine, & Mynett, 2018) or streamflow buffering (Patiño et al, 2021). Streamflow buffering is considered a crucial hydrological ecosystem service provided by páramos (Buytaert & Beven, 2011), contributing to water availability for over 100 million people in downstream Andean communities (Flores-López, Galaitsi, Escobar, & Purkey, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of agriculture and seasonality on the soil hydrophysical properties of high-Andean dry páramo grasslands

Gutiérrez

Rivera

Torrez

et al. 2021

Preprint

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One of the most essential ecosystem services provided by high-Andean páramos is streamflow buffering. A combination of soil, vegetation and climate characteristics provides páramos with an exceptional ability to store, regulate and supply water, particularly in their natural state. However, páramo catchments are seldom pristine. Agriculture is one of the most widespread human activities in páramos and considerably affects their soil hydrophysical properties. This research assesses how soil properties are affected by the conversion from natural páramo vegetation to fallow, onion, or potato crops. We measured Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Bulk density (Bd), pH and electric conductivity (EC) at three depths (0–5, 10–15 and 20–25 cm), in a stratified random survey of different land uses in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia. Samples were collected in wet and dry seasons. Agricultural use affects all the studied properties, increasing Bd (+0.11 g cm-3), decreasing SOM (-5.5%), and increasing pH (+1.3) and EC (+187 µS cm-1). Seasonality did not have a significant effect on the studied properties under natural vegetation; however, there were significant differences between wet season and dry season in agricultural soils in SOM (-7.2% and +5.7% in fallow and potato crop, respectively) and Bd (-0.22 gr cm-3 in crops). These changes show that agriculture in páramo grasslands leads to a significant decrease in soil porosity and water-holding capacity, which affects adversely the ecosystem hydrological regulation capacity. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the complexity of Andean páramos and provide crucial information to improve soil management, a key aspect for ensuring the sustainable provision of hydrological ecosystem services offered by Andean and other mountain ecosystems.

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“…Bulk density is a commonly reported soil physical property that is related to soil aeration, water and air permeability, and soil microporosity (Horn et al, 1995). Increased bulk density can be indicative of soil compaction, and affect the water retention capacity and accelerate soil erosion (Molina et al, 2007;Patiño et al, 2021). Other erosion indicators were recorded in the database, but not included in the statistical analyses because of a lack of statistical representation.…”

Section: Database Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

Vanacker

Molina

Rosas

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Soil erosion by water is affecting natural and anthropogenic environments through its impacts on water quality and availability, loss of soil nutrients, flood risk, sedimentation in rivers and streams, and damage to civil infrastructure. Sustainable management aims to avoid, reduce and reverse soil erosion and can provide multiple benefits for the environment, population, and livelihoods. We conducted a systematic review of 121 case studies from the Andes to answer the following questions: (1) Which erosion indicators allow us to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure? (2) What is the overall impact of working with natural infrastructure on on-site and off-site erosion mitigation? and (3) Which locations and types of studies are needed to fill critical gaps in knowledge and research? Three major categories of natural infrastructure were considered: protective vegetation, soil and water conservation measures, and adaptation measures that regulate the flow and transport of water. From the suite of physical, chemical and biological indicators commonly used in soil erosion research, two indicators were particularly relevant: soil organic carbon (SOC) of topsoil, and soil loss rates at the plot scale. In areas with protective vegetation and/or soil and water conservation measures, the SOC of topsoil is –on average– 1.3 to 2.8 times higher than in areas under traditional agriculture. Soil loss rates in areas with natural infrastructure were reported to be 38 % to 54 % lower than rates measured in untreated croplands. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the reported effectiveness holds during extreme events related to, for example, El Niño–Southern Oscillation.

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Influence of land use on hydro-physical soil properties of Andean páramos and its effect on streamflow buffering

Cited by 33 publications

References 66 publications

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

Effects of agriculture and seasonality on the soil hydrophysical properties of high-Andean dry páramo grasslands

The effect of natural infrastructure on water erosion mitigation in the Andes

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