Balance hídrico del suelo de páramo en función de la cobertura vegetal en una cuenca altoandina al sur del Ecuador

Abstract

The paramo ecosystem is a fragile environment and evidently vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the anthropogenic activities that are generated there. Vegetation plays an essential role in soil dynamics, mainly in the water retention capacity of the soil. This is why this research focused on determining a water balance of the paramo soil under forest

(Polylepis), cushion-forming plants and grassland vegetation covers in the Cuevas micro- basin south of Ecuador. The information downloaded regarding the volumetric water content

from TDR sensors installed in the study area was analyzed. The Hydrus 1D model was used to model and simulate the water content under the three vegetation covers and compare with the observed data. Considering the PBIAS error rate, using inverse modeling, acceptable results were achieved in the simulation of the water content in the soil under grassland cover. The study reveals that water storage has a similar behavior under the three vegetation covers, however, the soil under forest cover would be storing 3% more water compared to cushion- forming plants and the grassland.