Resumen

KARLIN, Marcos Sebastián et al. Changes in soil use: infiltration capacity in the center of Córdoba (Argentina). Cienc. suelo [online]. 2019, vol.37, n.2, pp.196-208. ISSN 1850-2067.

Soils in the center of Argentina have undergone considerable changes in the last five decades because of the qualification of land for agricultural, industrial or residential use, and to anthropic disturbances such as periodic forest fires or invasion of alien species. These changes affect edaphic and hydrological characteristics of these soils, modifying the hydrographic basin's hydrogeochemical cycles. The infiltration capacity is modified due to soil porosity, density and/or texture alteration at the surface or subsurface level as a result of physical-chemical disturbances. In the present work we evaluate the infiltration capacity in soils of the Molisol and Entisol orders present in the center of Córdoba (Argentina), under the effect of different uses, disturbance history and vegetation cover. Infiltration capacity measurements were carried out using the single ring method, obtaining the values that allowed the construction of the infiltration curves. The initial infiltration capacity (I_ini), basic infiltration (IB) and lateral movement of water (ML) values were analyzed. In Molisols, the infiltration capacity increased as time elapses since the suppression of agricultural activities. Cleared areas for livestock, without agricultural history, have intermediate rates of infiltration capacity between those of native forests and areas under recent agriculture, due to trampling. In azonal Entisols soils, the infiltration capacity improved over time after the occurrence of forest fires. In intrazonal Entisols soils, the effect of livestock reduced the infiltration capacity up to five times. The Ustifluvents are particularly susceptible to trampling because of their higher plasticity. In areas invaded by alien woody invasive species, the accumulated plant residues would be the cause of the reduced initial values of infiltration capacity, accelerating during the test time. These results can be used as inputs for the elaboration or adjustment of hydrological models for the center of Argentina.

Palabras clave : Disturb; hydrology; infiltration; lateral movement of water.