Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

2017 Annual Meeting | Oct. 22-25 | Tampa, FL

107546 Understanding Soil Quality Changes after Soil Replacement in Forest Reclamation in Patagonia.

Poster Number 914

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Forest, Range and Wildland Soils
See more from this Session: Foundations of Ecological Restoration: Recovery of Soil Functions after Drastic Disturbance Poster

Monday, October 23, 2017
Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall

Eduardo C. Arellano, Vicuña Mackenna 4860 Macul, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, RM, CHILE, Melany Poppe, Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile and Juan Ovalle, Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Abstract:
During the last decade, coal mine projects have been installed in Chilean Patagonia. New reclamation plans, requiered specific knowledge in order to recover forest vegetation. Recommendations established by the forest reclamation approach include top soil removal and storage before mining, and then replace it at the time of starting the revegetation efforts. Proper soil handle is critical to preserve soil properties that help early revegetation success. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil quality following mine reclamation protocols. Soils sample were collected from a gradient of soil disturbance sites: Native forest, converted grassland, surface replace the soil, and a mix of top soil and gravel (tecnosol) used by the mine operation to cover the overburden. Soil physical and chemical parameters were measured two years after the last disturbance. Soil water retention curves were analyzed for each condition.Our results suggest that surface soil removal, when is properly handle, improve Nothofagus pumilio restoration efforts in Southern Patagonia in comparison to reforestation on degraded grassland.

See more from this Division: SSSA Division: Forest, Range and Wildland Soils
See more from this Session: Foundations of Ecological Restoration: Recovery of Soil Functions after Drastic Disturbance Poster