La intensificación del uso de la tierra disminuye el carbono orgánico del suelo en bosques del Chaco Seco, Córdoba

M. Betania Naldini; Natalia Pérez-Harguindeguy; Esteban Kowaljow

doi:10.25260/EA.23.33.3.0.2072

Authors

M. Betania Naldini Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [CONICET]- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba). Córdoba, Argentina
Natalia Pérez-Harguindeguy Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [CONICET]- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba). Córdoba, Argentina. Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Córdoba, Argentina
Esteban Kowaljow Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas [CONICET]- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba). Córdoba, Argentina. Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Córdoba, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.23.33.3.0.2072

Keywords:

logging, grazing, particulate organic matter, mineral-associated organic matter, potential microbial respiration

Abstract

Changes in land use have drastically reduced the Dry Chaco forests in central Argentina. In particular, conversion to crops has generated significant losses in soil organic carbon (SOC) and associated ecosystem services. On the other hand, less drastic changes in use, such as the conversion of forests to shrublands as a result of logging and grazing intensification, can also considerably affect the dynamics of the SOC. In this work, we evaluate total SOC, SOC in particulate organic matter (C-POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (C-MAOM), and potential microbial respiration from 0-10 cm of soil in four vegetal physiognomies resulting from logging and intensification of grazing. Total SOC content decreased by 73% in the most intensively used physiognomy (open shrubland) compared to the preserved forest. This was reflected in a decrease in C-POM (-85%), considered more sensitive to management, as well as in a decrease in C-MAOM (-54%), considered more stable. Land use intensification also decreased microbial activity by up to 62%. However, carbon losses from microbial respiration could be amplified due to reduced physical protection in intensively used vegetal physiognomies. Our results suggest that logging and grazing in Dry Chaco forests can generate significant alterations in SOC storage and stabilization, leading to soil degradation and loss of key ecosystem services.

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