Impact of Pine Plantations on Soils and Vegetation in the Ecuadorian High Andes

Hofstede, Robert; Groenendijk, Jeroen P.; Coppus, R.; Fehse, J.; Sevink, J.

doi:10.1659/0276-4741(2002)022[0159:ioppos]2.0.co;2

Cited by 90 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…These dramatic changes in native vegetation in the high Andes in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries have been attributed to changes in land-use practices after the 1954 land reform [31]. These changes have increased soil erosion rates and negatively impacted on the hydrological and carbon cycles [8,9,14,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. It has been argued that land-use policies, deforestation, urbanization, and the movement of people are the root causes of degradation in this ecoregion [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land‐Use and Land‐Cover Change in the Páramo of South‐Central Ecuador, 1979–2014

Ross

Fildes

Millington

2017

Land

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Land use and land cover were mapped between 3500 and 5000 meters above sea level m.a.s.l. in the Río Chambo basin in south-central Ecuador from Landsat MSS, TM, ETM and OLI imagery acquired between 1979 and 2014. The area mapped has been dominated by páramo and a variety of agricultural land uses since 1979. The main land-use transitions have been from páramo to agriculture, native forest to páramo and agriculture, and agriculture back to páramo. Significant areas of páramo have remained unchanged over the 35-year period analyzed, while the area of native forest has declined and that of bare soil increased. Plantations of non-native timber species increased from 1979 to 1999, but their area has now declined. Most land-use transformations have occurred at lower elevations in the 3500-5000 m.a.s.l. range. This is particularly the case for the loss of native forest and the degradation of páramo and agriculture to areas of bare (eroded) soils. A drivers-based approach revealed that these land-use transformations were related to import substitution and afforestation policies geared toward internal markets, exports and environmental conservation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land‐Use and Land‐Cover Change in the Páramo of South‐Central Ecuador, 1979–2014

Ross

Fildes

Millington

2017

Land

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“…Natural montane cloud forests have been widely replaced by either potato cultivation, pastures for dairy cattle, or exotic conifer forest plantations, with native páramo grasslands being over-exploited by grazing combined with frequent burning (Hofstede, 1995;Verweij, 1995;Hofstede et al, 2002;Farley et al, 2004;González et al, 2011). In many situations, these developments have led to a depression of the upper forest limit (Laegaard, 1992;Sarmiento, 2002;Wille et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present vegetation pattern in the tropical high Andes is generally determined by human impact, particularly through the use of fire, leading to the destruction of woody vegetation usually on all but the most sheltered sites (Hofstede, 1995;Verweij, 1995;Hofstede et al, 2002;Young, 2009;Cuesta et al, 2012). Thus, few examples of what could be construed as a natural upper forest boundary now exist.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Broad Transition from Cloud Forest to Páramo Characterizes an Undisturbed Treeline in Parque Nacional Llanganates, Ecuador

Hofstede

Dickinson

Mark

et al. 2014

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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“…On the other hand, small to medium-sized farmers (from <1 ha to 5 ha) are putting demands on land with soils that are already nutrient-limited in most of the Andes, due to intensive cultivation and pasturing, afforestation and soil erosion processes [3]- [5]. The increase in land use without regard to soil nutrient replenishment by both large-scale farming enterprises and small to medium sized farmers has, in turn, led to the rapid decline of soil fertility and possibly to an irreversible transformation of native forests into farmlands, pastures or tree plantations [6]- [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Agricultural Potential in Four Common Andean Land Use Types in the Highlands of Southern Ecuador as Revealed by a Corn Bioassay

Chacón¹,

Gagnon²,

Paré³

2015

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In the Andes, little is known about the relationships among current land uses and their effect on soil fertility. Corn (Zea mays L.) was used to evaluate soil quality for plant growth on soils of four land uses, along an expected gradient of fertility: native forests (Nf) > pastures (Pa) > Eucalyptus globulus Labill. plantations (Eg) > Pinus patula Schlecht. plantations (Pp). Corn was grown in soils taken from four different areas, for the four land uses in each. In a common garden, a randomized block design was used with four treatments: controls (C), ammonium nitrate (N), triple superphosphate (P), and combined N and P fertilizers (N + P). On soils from Nf, Pa and Eg, fertilization response was N + P > P > N > C; corn biomass (g/pot −1 ) averaged 4.5 in N + P, 3.3 in P, 1.8 in N, 1.7 in C; P content (mg/pot −1 ) averaged 12 in N + P, 11.9 in P, 2.3 in N, 2 in C. N + P enhanced growth the most. Mortality was high on Pp soils, growth weak, and fertilization response was P > N + P > C ≥ N; corn biomass (g/pot −1 ) was 0.9 in P, 0.5 in N + P, 0.8 in C, 0.4 in N; P content (mg/pot −1 ) was 4.4 in P, 2.3 in N + P, 1.8 in C, 1 in N. All soils had P, K, Ca and Mg deficiencies. Al toxicity possibly occurred only in Pp soils. All control soils had low fertility. Responses to N and P were high except for Pp. Pastures and plantations were once natural forests converted to agriculture, then to pastures as soil fertility declined. Plantations were likely established on poorest pastures; only pine grew on poorest soils. This land use endpoint has the lowest agricultural potential; other land uses * Corresponding author. G. Chacón et al. 1130have limitations in P, N, and potentially K.

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Impact of Pine Plantations on Soils and Vegetation in the Ecuadorian High Andes

Abstract: BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Cited by 90 publications

References 11 publications

Land‐Use and Land‐Cover Change in the Páramo of South‐Central Ecuador, 1979–2014

Land‐Use and Land‐Cover Change in the Páramo of South‐Central Ecuador, 1979–2014

A Broad Transition from Cloud Forest to Páramo Characterizes an Undisturbed Treeline in Parque Nacional Llanganates, Ecuador

Soil Agricultural Potential in Four Common Andean Land Use Types in the Highlands of Southern Ecuador as Revealed by a Corn Bioassay

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