Influencia de la gradiente de altura sobre la respiración microbiana del suelo

Abstract

Abstract:The present investigation focuses on determining the microbial respiration content of the soil and its relationship with an altitudinal gradient. We analyzed 240 soil samples (at a depth of 20 cm) obtained in different altitudinal levels corresponding to 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800 mamsl in the canton Catamayo of the province of Loja, south of Ecuador. The microbial respiration content of the soil was determined using the method of Guitian & Carballas (1976). Values were obtained in a range from 30.66 mg / CO2 to 144.79 mg / CO2 where the lowest soil respiration content is at the altitude of 1200 mamsl and the highest respiration content of the soil is at the altitude of 1800 mamsl, with respect to the elevations of 1400 and 1600 mamsl no statistically significant differences were found in these altitudes, obtaining similar values. In relation to the three sampling distances between plants (1m, 2m, 3m) there is no influence on the microbial respiration content of the soil, since the mg / CO2 ranges are similar between them respectively, which can be attributed to factors as the temperature and precipitation in the study area.