Bioindicadores para la determinación de la calidad del suelo en la microcuenca de la quebrada Jun Jun

Abstract

The present research was carried out with the objective to identifying the soil quality existing in the Jun Jun´s ravine microbasin through the use of bioindicators (Lombricus terrestris), which were related to chemical indicators such as pH, organic matter, carbon Organic and total nitrogen; Using areas at different altitudes (Z1:> 2800 m.a.s.l., Z2: 2800-2900 m.a.s.l.,Z3: > 2900 m.a.s.l.); and areas with vegetation cover (C1) and without vegetation cover (C2).The sampling was done in the Microbasin, which is located in the of Mocha, Quero and Cevallos´s cantons. In the test, the random block design was applied with four replications, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried to accord the experimental design proposed, Tukey significance tests at 5%, to differentiate between treatments; Where the variables of bioindicator (Lombricus terrestris) were recorded, the only macrofauna present in the sampling area, pH, organic matter, organic carbon, total nitrogen; indicators related to bioindicators. The results obtained were that earthworms (bioindicator) were present in some treatments, these had a better population density, in soils that had vegetation cover in the three height ranges studied, these treatments were: <2800 m.a.s.l., Pasture (Z1C1), 2800-2900 m.a.s.l., pasture cover (Z2C1) and> 2900 m.a.s.l., pasture cover (Z3C1) with averages of 12.25 ind./m2, 11.00 ind./m2, and 4 , 25 ind./m2, respectively; With higher biomass treatments Z1C1 and Z2C1, with averages of 5.45 g / m2 and 3.90 g / m2. Confirming that soils that have a vegetation cover have a higher quality than those without; As these are deteriorated by environmental factors and by anthropic activities. In addition, when related to other indicators of pH, Organic Matter, Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen, one of the best treatments resulted in Z2C1, which had a vegetative cover of grass and was at a height that oscillated between 2800-2900 m.s.n.m.