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Soil fertility analysis in Alto Loica San Pedro de Melipilla, Metropolitan Region (Chile)

Authors

  • Juan Luis Araya Silva Universidad de Santiago de Chile
No. 53 (2017)
https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2017.45155

Abstract

In Chile, soil erosion is one of the main environmental problems as over 40% of the country’s soils are subjected to erosion, limiting its capacity to generate goods and services. In the central areas of the country, this phenomenon is intensified at the coastal mountain ridge, with rural areas as the most affected. This is the case of the commune of San Pedro de Melipilla, located at the SW of the Metropolitan Region. The aim of this study is to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil in Alto Loica, which is a rural area located in the southern area of the commune of San Pedro. The study was carried out in four hydrographic micro-basins through the sampling of soils and the analysis of soil pits in Alto Loica. The results show critical deficits in the concentrations of micro and macro nutrients, resulting in low fertility and quality of soils. Thus, the soils of Alto Loica are not apt for agriculture-livestock use, limiting its use to forestry. Moreover, these could be related to poor agricultural practices in the past, which led to soil erosion in the area. Overall, this study could become a conceptual and referential framework for future soil restauration and rehabilitation studies aiming at recovering the soil ability to generate goods and services.

Keywords:

soil, erosion, fertility, macronutrient, micronutrient

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How to Cite
Araya Silva, J. L. (2017). Soil fertility analysis in Alto Loica San Pedro de Melipilla, Metropolitan Region (Chile). Investigaciones Geográficas, (53), pp. 127–140. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5370.2017.45155
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Investigaciones Geográficas
Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo
Universidad de Chile
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