Evaluación de la regeneración natural y suelos afectados por un incendio en plantaciones de Pinus patula en la granja Irquis, Azuay-Ecuador

Abstract

Forest fires in Ecuador have influenced changes in vegetation and soil properties. The present study evaluates the natural regeneration and the physical and chemical properties of the soil affected by a fire in Pinus patula plantations in the Irquis farm, Azuay-Ecuador. 12 plots were installed, six in the burned area and six in the unburned area. For natural regeneration, herbaceous and woody species were recorded with the richness, abundance, dominance and Shannon and Simpson indices, Kruskal Wallis mean tests (P<0.05) were applied. For the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, samples were taken at depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm for analysis. Spearman correlations (P<0.05) were performed, with dependent variables (richness, abundance, dominance and Simpson and Shannon indices), between independent variables (physical and chemical parameters of the soil). The results recorded similar values in wealth. Dominance was higher in the burned area. The Importance Value Index (IVI) was the species of Pinus patula in the burned area. The chemical properties of the soil such as P, K, Ca, Cu, C, which presented correlations in the indexes of richness and abundance in the burned area, while in the nonburned area N, P, Fe, Cu is correlated with the wealth index, dominance, Simpson and Shannon. It is concluded that natural regeneration can be an effective strategy for the conservation of floristic diversity; however, the soil is affected in its physical and chemical properties causing erosion.