Suelos, vegetación y erosión en una toposecuencia de la finca la estrella, municipio Machiques de Perijá, estado Zulia, Venezuela

Abstract

The work was carried out with the objective of determining the level of soil degradation by measuring soil and vegetation parameters as an expression of desertification under dry subhumid mesoclimate conditions in the La Estrella farm, Machiques de Perijá municipality, Zulia, Venezuela. Soil and vegetation variables were sampled in a band of 20 m x 250 m, sectioned into three parts: top, middle slope and inter-hill valley. The band in turn is subdivided into 1x1 m plots, randomly choosing 33 of them, in order to obtain information on the soil and vegetation. 15 families and 20 plant species were registered in the valley; 16 and 32 in the middle slope and the top, without vegetation, for a total of 20 families and 39 species; In addition, it was determined that the dynamics of the vegetation cover is reduced and causes the appearance and expansion of areas devoid of vegetation called peladeros, loss of horizon A and part of B, identifying the levels of soil degradation. The indices of vegetation cover, soil productivity and risks of water erosion were calculated, from which four classes of soil degradation were defined: A, with little or no; class B, moderate; C, heavily degraded soils and D with severe degradation. Taxonomically three subgroups were identified: Fluventic Endoaquepts at the top; Typic Paleustalfs in the middle slope, and in the intercolinar valley, Fluventic Dystrustepts