Variability of soil types in wetland meadows in the south of the Chilean Patagonia

0347192 - BÚ 2011 RIV CL eng J - Journal Article
Filipová, L. - Hédl, Radim - Covacevich, N. C.
Variability of soil types in wetland meadows in the south of the Chilean Patagonia.
Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research. Roč. 70, č. 2 (2010), s. 266-277. ISSN 0718-5820. E-ISSN 0718-5839
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA206/08/0389
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60050516
Keywords : histosols * fluvisols * soil properties
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 0.385, year: 2010

The wetland meadows and pastures (vegas) of the agricultural zone of the Magallanes Region and the Chilean Patagonia are productive and intensively exploited ecosystems. However, there is scarce data about the typology and the physical and chemical properties of the soils that determine the agricultural potential of vegas sites. Sampling of the main horizons of 47 soil profiles was conducted throughout the area. Extensive analyses of the properties of samples taken from all profiles were done. The most frequently recorded groups of soil types in the studied vegas were Histosols - peat soils (20 profiles), and Fluvisols (19). The principal differences between the Histosols and the Fluvisols are the content of organic matter (often peat), pH level (related to the absence/presence of carbonates) and associated soil properties. Fluvisols are more susceptible to salinization under conditions of aridity, whereas the main threat to Histosols is artificial drainage.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0188024