Quichimbo Miguitama, P.G.; Jiménez, L.; Veintimilla, D.; Tischer, A.; Günter, S.; Mosandl, R. & Hamer, U. (2017): <b>Forest Site Classification in the Southern Andean Region of Ecuador: A Case Study of Pine Plantations to Collect a Base of Soil Attributes</b>. <i>Forests</i> <b>473</b>(8), 1-22.
Resource Description
Title:
Forest Site Classification in the Southern Andean Region of Ecuador: A Case Study of Pine Plantations to Collect a Base of Soil Attributes
FOR816dw ID:
1700
Publication Date:
2017-12-02
License and Usage Rights:
PAK 823-825 data user agreement. (www.tropicalmountainforest.org/dataagreementp3.do)
email:
sven_gunter <at> yahoo.de
Dep. of Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Institute of Silviculture
Am Hochanger 13
Technische Universität München
85354 Freising
Germany
Individual:
Reinhard Mosandl
Contact:
email:
mosandl <at> forst.tu-muenchen.de
Dep. of Ecology and Ecosystem Management
Technische Universität München
Institute of Silviculture
Am Hochanger 13
85354 Freising
Germany
Forest site classification adapted to the respective site conditions is one prerequisite for<br/>
sustainable silviculture. This work aims to initiate the forest site classification for pine plantations<br/>
in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. Forest productivity, estimated by the dominant height<br/>
of 20-year-old trees (DH20), was related to data from climate, topography, and soil using 23 plots<br/>
installed in pine plantations in the province of Loja. Forest site productivity was classified as:<br/>
low (class C: 13.4 m), middle (class B: 16.6 m), and high (Class A: 22.3 m). Strong determinants<br/>
to differentiate the forest site classes were: the short to medium term available Ca and K stocks<br/>
(organic layer + mineral soil standardized to a depth of 60 cm), soil acidity, the C:N ratio, clay and<br/>
sand content, forest floor thickness, altitude, and slope. The lowest forest productivity (Class C)<br/>
is mainly associated with the lowest short to medium term available K and Ca stocks. Whereas,<br/>
in site classes with the highest forest productivity, pines could benefit from a more active microbial<br/>
community releasing N and P, since the soil pH was about 1 unit less acidic. This is supported by the<br/>
lowest forest floor thickness and the narrowest C:N ratio.
