Soils in urban areas often present characteristics that might submit these environments to erosion processes. Applying municipal solid wastes (MSW) composts to soils have been suggested as a means to improve physical and chemical properties. A field experiment with a completely randomized design was conducted in a Typic Argiudoll from a degraded area in Buenos Aires City. The objective was to evaluate the effect of MSW compost application on soil properties, residue decomposition and Poa (Poa pratensis L.) reestablishment. At the beginning of the trial, compost was prepared and applied in a bare soil on 0.25 m 2 square plots afterwards litterbags were incorporated and Poa was sown. Compost amounts were: 0 (control); 2 (low); 4 (medium) and 7 kg m-2 (high) on fresh matter basis. During the trial residue decomposition and aerial dry matter (DM: g treatment-1) were evaluated, at the end soil physical and chemical parameters were measured. Medium and high compost rates increased organic C, total N and extractable P. Addition of 2 kg m-2 affected soil organic C as well, but in a minor fee. Soil physical properties were improved after MSW compost addition. In medium and high doses, augmentations in organic matter reduced bulk densities and enhanced water infiltration. Aerial DM was significantly affected by treatments (p < 0.05). Medium dose improved soil properties and plant DM in the same amount as the highest rate. MSW compost application in urban soils is a viable alternative, since allows the full restoration of an area with serious environmental problems.

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El objetivo de este trabajo fue clasificar, cuantificar y cartografiar la aptitud forestal de las tierras no agrícolas del N-NE de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Para ello se aplicó el software Automated Land Evaluation System (ALES) propuesto por la FAO. Las especies consideradas fueron: E. camaldulensis, E. dunnii; E. saligna, E. tereticornis, E. viminalis y los géneros Salix spp. y Populus spp. Se utilizaron las Cartas de Suelos de la provincia de Buenos Aires escala 1:50.000 del INTA. Como criterios diagnósticos se utilizaron la profundidad de fluctuación de la napa freática, el pH, la textura del horizonte superficial y el drenaje, entre otros. El balance de superficies indica que existen 92.089 ha de tierras aptas para implantar E. camaldulensis de las cuales el 13% se consideran sin limitantes. Para E. tereticornis existen 91.841 ha aptas, donde el 13% son muy aptas. La superficie de tierras aptas para E. saligna y E. viminalis alcanzó las 40.718 ha de las cuales el 30% son muy aptas. Estas dos especies presentan restricciones climáticas en el área evaluada debido a la susceptibilidad al frío en el período de implantación. Para E. dunnii, con 40.718 ha, no se identificaron tierras muy aptas. En cuanto al género Populus, el potencial de tierras disponibles es de 42.000 ha, siendo el 29% muy aptas. Para el género Salix la superficie fue de 47.243 ha. Estos resultados muestran que existe una importante superficie de tierras potencialmente aptas para el desarrollo de una cuenca forestal en la región sin competencia con la agricultura.

Different soil types have a substantial impact on many of the processes that take place in ecosystem functioning and thus in soil organic C (SOC) stocks. Knowledge of the C pool in different soil taxa and its vertical distribution is necessary since very few studies have compared SOC stocks by horizon and depth increment. Buenos Aires province, Argentina is an interesting area to characterize temperate system SOC stocks and may be used as a model system for temperate lands across the globe. The objectives of this study were to (i) quantify SOC content and vertical distribution (0–100 cm) at the great group level in Buenos Aires province and (ii) identify relationships between the distribution of SOC and edaphic properties. The analysis presented here is based on 248 soil profiles. Major soil great groups included were Argiudolls, Hapludolls, Natraquolls, and Haplustolls. Soil organic C (kg m−2) was estimated for each soil taxa and profile (0–1 m depth). Argiudolls contained the most SOC in the first two horizons (A and B) compared with other soil groups. The mean content of total SOC (0–30 and 30–100 cm) for the Argiudolls was significantly greater than in all other soil great groups; Natraquolls had the least. The SOC followed a general pattern of gradually decreasing with depth, with A and B horizons the major contributors to SOC storage in the region. The main contributors to SOC storage at the 0‐ to 100‐cm depths were Argiudolls (with 220 Gg) and Hapludolls (with 215 Gg). Sand, clay, and N contents were correlated to SOC content in all the great groups. A division in organic carbon storage between the major soil groups in this province of the Pampas Region was possible and may be useful to compare fluxes of SOC at regional and global scales.