Abstract
In the Patagonia Andean Region, silvopastoral system success depends on forestry management, which seeks to guarantee highest water input into the soil to forage production. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare different components of the water balance in a Pinus radiata forest under two different management practices: silvopastoral and forest treatment (325 and 622 trees/ha, respectively). In order to explain incident precipitation distribution within the forest, different variables were measured: direct precipitation, stemflow, interception, soil moisture content, percolation and evapotranspiration. Additionally, canopy cover, leaf area index (LAI) and forage production was determined. Silvopastoral system, with respect to forest system, presented higher direct precipitation (84±1 vs. 75±2%), lower stemflow (2±0.3 vs. 3±0.27%), lower interception (14±1 vs. 22±2%), higher soil moisture content (24.2±2.5 vs. 20.9±2.1%) and lower canopy cover (70.9±0.05 vs. 74.89±0.34%). In turn, percolation (0.33±0.12 vs. 0.11±0.08%), evapotranspiration (78.2 vs. 73.3%), pasture production (230.76±97.57 vs. 66.60±60.02 kg MS.ha-1.year-1) and LAI (1.28±0.04 vs. 1.31±0.02) were similar in both systems. These results show that management density modified only some components of water balance. However, adding more water the silvopastoral system was not reflected in an increase in pasture production. Density management is key, mainly in silvopastoral system, where different system components must be raised up for a more efficient water usage. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.19.29.2.0.776
Highlights
En el ecotono de la Región Andino Patagónica, Argentina, existen alrededor de 800000 hectáreas con aptitud forestal para implantar coníferas exóticas de crecimiento rápido, como las del género Pinus (Loguercio and Deccechis 2006)
In the Patagonia Andean Region, silvopastoral system success depends on forestry management, which seeks to guarantee highest water input into the soil to forage production
Adding more water the silvopastoral system was not reflected in an increase in pasture production
Summary
El estudio se llevó a cabo en la Unidad Demostrativa Silvopastoril del Campo Experimental Agroforestal INTA-Trevelin, provincia del Chubut, aproximadamente en 43°07’18.40’’ S y 71°32’56.32’’ O. En cada sector (manejo silvopastoril vs forestal tradicional) se instaló una parcela dasométrica circular de 706 m2. Abarcando la heterogeneidad del sistema, se midió la precipitación directa (Pd) con una canaleta de 14.25 m de largo y 0.10 m de ancho (1.4 m2), que almacenó el agua en un bidón de 100 L, siguiendo la metodología sugerida por Huber y Trecamán (2004). La canaleta se instaló a 1 m de altura, con una pendiente que aseguró un escurrimiento rápido hacia el bidón, evitando las pérdidas por evaporación (Buduba 2006); luego, los valores registrados se llevaron a hectárea. Para determinar el escurrimiento fustal por hectárea se promediaron los valores medidos y se multiplicó por la densidad de árboles de cada parcela. Las determinaciones se realizaron en 46 eventos de lluvia entre septiembre de 2014 y diciembre de 2015
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