Ecological suitability and tree seedling survival in the Bolivian altiplano
Keywords:
Polylepsis tarapacana, Cupressus macrocarpa, microcatchments, agroforestryAbstract
Tree seedling survival rates are low in the dry, harsh climate of the Bolivian altiplano. We tested two species, Polylepsis tarapacana and Cupressus macrocarpa, using four microcatchment planting methods and a control to determine if species survival could be improved. The control improved surface infiltration rates but provided no protection from wind and cold. The four sub-surface planting methods increased soil moisture and mitigated cold, desiccating winds. The native species, P. tarapacana, showed better survival than the non-native one. All planting methods showed excellent survival rates for P. tarapacana, as all methods improve rainfall infiltration in relatively poor soil. Pit planting proved to be more successful for C. macrocarpa than other planting methods, probably due to the protection it provides from climatic stress during the winter months and the increased soil moisture. While modifying the local micro-ecological conditions improves seedling survival, selecting ecologically suitable species is a more successful strategy for tree planting.
References
BAKER, PA; CA RIGSBY; GO SELTZER; SC FRITZ; TK LOWENSTEIN ET AL. 2001. Tropical climate changes at the millennial and orbital timescales on the Bolivian Altiplano. Nature 409:698-701.
BOERS, TM; K ZONDERVAN & J BEN ASHER. 1986. Micro-Catchment-Water-Harvesting (MCWH) for arid zone development. Agricultural Water Management 12:21-39.
BOUWER, H. 1986. Intake rate: cylinder infiltrometer. Pp. 825-845 in: A Klute (ed.). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 1: Physical and Mineralogical Methods. 2nd edition. American Society of Agronomy Inc. Madison.
CARDENAS, J. 2001. Control de la Estación Metereologica (Gestion 2000 – 2001). Oruro: Centro Experimental Agropecuaria, Condoriri, Universidad Técnica de Oruro.
COHEN, ME. 2002. Utilizing microcatchment systems to increase tree establishment rates in the Bolivian high plains. MSc. Thesis. Michigan Technological University. Houghton, USA.
EHRLER, WL; DH FINK & ST MITCHELL. 1978. Growth and yield of jojoba plants in native stands using runoff collecting microcatchments. Agronomy Journal 70:1005-1009.
FARLEY, KA; EF KELLY & RGM HOFSTEDE. 2004. Soil organic carbon and water retention after conversion of grasslands to pine plantations in the Ecuadorian Andes. Ecosystems 7(7):729-739.
FJELDSÅ, J. 1992. Biogeographic patterns and evolution of the avifauna of relict high-altitude woodlands of the Andes, Steenstrupia: Zoological Museum University of Copenhagen, 18(2):9-62.
FLORIDATA. 2002. Cupressus macrocarpa, January 26, 2002. www.floridata.com
FRIEND, AD & FI WOODWARD. 1990. Evolutionary and ecophysiological responses of mountain plants to the growing season environment. Advances in Ecological Research 20:59-124.
GARCIA-NÚÑEZ, C; F RADA; C BOERO; JA GONZALEZ; M GALLARDO ET AL. 2000. Gas exchange and water relation studies in Polylepsis tarapacana trees at Sajama, Bolivia. Pp. 37 in: Centro Cultural Simón I. Patino, Resúmenes, I Congreso Internacional de Ecología y Conservación de Bosques de Polylepsis. Cochabamba, Bolivia.
GARREAUD, RD. 2000. Intraseasonal variability in moisture and rainfall over the South American Altiplano. Monthly Weather Review 128:3337-3346.
GILMAN, EF & DG WATSON. 1993. Cupressus macrocarpa Monterey Cypress. United States Forest Service, Southern Group of State Foresters, Fact Sheet ST-224. Washington.
GONZALES, JA; M LIBERMAN-CRUZ; C BOERO; M GALLARDO & FE PRADO. 2000. Carbohydrate biosinthesis, photosynthetic and protective pigments in Polylepsis tarapacana leaves in the highest open forest in the World. Pp. 61 in: Centro Cultural Simón I. Patino, Resúmenes, I Congreso Internacional de Ecología y Conservación de Bosques de Polylepsis. Cochabamba, Bolivia.
HJARSEN, T. 1998. Biological diversity in high altitude woodlands and plantations in the Bolivian Andes: Implications for development of sustainable land-use. Pp. 145-149 in: III Simposio Internacional de Desarollo Sustentable de Montanas: entendiendo las interfaces ecologicas para la gestion de los paisajes culturales en los Andes.
INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Bolivia). 1993. Censo Nacional de Población y Vivienda, Resultados Finales. La Paz: Instituto Nacional de Estadística.
LOAYZA, I; A VILASECA; C BALLIVIÁN; D LORENZO & E DELLACASSA. 2000. Characterization of the essential oil from aerial part of Kehina (Polylepsis besseri Hieron. subsp. besseri). Pp. 52 in: Centro Cultural Simón I. Patino, Resúmenes, I Congreso Internacional de Ecología y Conservación de Bosques de Polylepsis. Cochabamba, Bolivia.
MILLER, JT & FB KNOWLES. 1990. Introduced forest trees in New Zealand: recognition, role, and seed source, 9: The Cypresses. Ministry of Forestry, Forest Research Institute. Roturua, New Zealand.
MILLIKEN, GA & DE JOHNSON. 1984. Analysis of Messy Data, Volume 1: Designed Experiments. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
RADA, F; G GOLDSTEIN; A AZOCAR & FC MEINZER. 1985. Daily and seasonal osmotic changes in a tropical treeline species. Journal of Experimental Botany 36:989-1000.
RADA, F; C GARCIA-NUNEZ; C BOERO; M GALLARDOL; M HILAL ET AL. 2000. Resistance against low temperature in Polylepsis tarapacana, a tree growing at the highest altitudes in the world: Freezing avoidance or frost tolerance? Pp. 36 in: Centro Cultural Simón I. Patino, Resúmenes, I Congreso Internacional de Ecología y Conservación de Bosques de Polylepsis. Cochabamba, Bolivia.
SHARMA, KD; OP PAREED & HP SINGH. 1986. Micro-catchment water harvesting for raising jujube orchards in an arid climate. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers 29:112-118.
SLAYBACK, RD; & DR CABLE. 1970. Larger pits aid reseeding of semidesert rangeland. Journal of Range Management 23:333-335.
STEEL, RGD & JH TORRIE. 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill. New York.
VELEZ, V; J CAVELIER & B DEVIA. 1998. Ecological traits of the tropical treeline species Polylepsis quadrijuga (Rosaceae) in the Andes of Columbia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 15:771-787.
WHEELER, TR; A QI; JDH KEATINGE; RH ELLIS & RJ SUMMERFIELD. 1999. Selecting legume cover crops for hillside environments in Bolivia. Mountain Research and Development 19:318-324.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors retain their rights as follows: 1) by granting the journal the right to its first publication, and 2) by registering the published article with a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which allows authors and third parties to view and use it as long as they clearly mention its origin (citation or reference, including authorship and first publication in this journal). Authors can make other non-exclusive distribution agreements as long as they clearly indicate their origin and are encouraged to widely share and disseminate the published version of their work.