Abstract

ALVAREZ, M Fernanda; OSTERRIETH, Margarita L.; BERNAVA LABORDE, Verónica  and  MONTTI, Lía F.. Stability, morphology and roughness of aggregates of typical argiudolls under diferent types of land uses: their role as indicators of soils physical quality in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.2, pp.115-129. ISSN 1850-2067.

During the last ten years, an important land use change took place in the Pampas region of Argentina. This change led to a significant soil degradation. This work aims to evaluate the stability, morphology and roughness of soil aggregates in soils under different land uses. The values found for each land use could serve as soil quality indicators in southeastern Buenos Aires. Samples were taken from mollic epipedons under cultivated, forest and natural soils. Results showed higher aggregate stability in virgin and forest soils than in cultivated soils. Aggregates were elongated, quadrangular and spherical in cultivated and forest soils. Aggregates from non-cultivated soils did not show the expected spherical forms; they also presented a high roughness although it varied across the different aggregate sizes. Soil aggregate stability, morphology and roughness were suitable indicators of soil quality in southeastern Pampas.

Keywords : Epipedón molic; Aggregate characterization; Intensity and type of land use; Soils quality.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )