Soil quality: an indicator of recovery in a nature reserve in the Colombian Andes

Abstract

Soils provide essential ecosystem services for the existence of ecosystems and biodiversity. It is crucial to understand their quality through the evaluation of ecological processes. However, only some studies estimate the effectiveness of ecosystem restoration based on evaluating soil quality (SQ) indicators. This research evaluated the five most common land-use scenarios in Andean ecosystems within the Natural Reserve of the Civil Society (RNSC) “La Montaña Mágica” under natural forest, coffee plantation, badlands, and active and passive restoration. The main objective was to analyze the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics concerning land use, establish the baseline for SQ indicators in different land use activities, and determine the status of restoration systems for other land uses in the study site. ANOVA and Dunnett's test evaluated SQ parameters. In passive and active restoration, soil bulk density, porosity, and the number of individuals and families of macroinvertebrates were improved. The latter presented low pH and aluminum values but increased potassium compared to other soil uses. The restoration strategies favored changes in SQ indicators due to the contribution of organic carbon, a developed root system, and the recirculation of nutrients in the edaphic system. This study provided information on changes in SQ with soil usage as a practical tool to evaluate ecological restoration methods in natural areas of the eastern Colombian Andes.