ABSTRACT:
Soil erosion and infiltration are influenced by chemical, mineralogical, and physical soil properties. Typically, erosion increases with decreasing infiltration. Undisturbed Andisols are considered to be highly stable and resistant to water erosion. A wide variety of Andisols can be found on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands). The objective of the present paper was to determine the infiltration rate of five Andisols and assess the influence of deforestation and a change in vegetation on the infiltration rate. Apparent hydraulic conductivity was measured using a double ring infiltrometer in soils from the Vitrixerands, Hapludands, Haplustands and Fulvudands great groups. The Infiltration rates in the natural soils were very high and in all cases were greater than 130 mm hr−1 (5.1 in hr −1). Harvesting the natural vegetation appeared to increase the bulk density, while also reducing organic matter and the apparent saturated hydraulic conductivity values. Under these conditions erosion can be stimulated.
Footnotes
Carmen Concepcin Jiménez is an adjunct professor of soil science in the Department of Soil Science and Geology at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain. Marisa Tejedor is a professor of soil science in the Department of Soil Science and Geology at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain. Gregorio Morillas is a soil scientist in the Department of Soil Science and Geology at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain. Jonay Neris is a soil scientist in the Department of Soil Science and Geology at the University of La Laguna in Tenerife, Spain.
- Copyright 2006 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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