EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LAND USE ON CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF AN ANDOSOL IN MICHOACAN, MEXICO

Abstract

Background: The replacement of forest vegetation with agricultural crops, and their subsequent management generate an impact on the availability of nutrients in the soil. Objective: To investigate the impacts of land use change from a forest ecosystem to agricultural areas with organic and conventional amendments in the chemical properties of an Andosol. Methodology: The chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity [EC], soil organic matter [SOM], Na, Ca, K, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe content) of an Andosol under different soil use systems were evaluated; one forest or control and three agricultural (queensland nut, organic avocado and conventional avocado. Results: The results showed that changes in land use caused a significant increase in nutrients, mainly derived from the management and application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Implications: Determine if there are significant differences in agricultural areas with organic and conventional practices, with respect to those determined in a merely forestry area, considering the latter as a control, since before the changes in land use, all the areas belonged to the same ecosystem. Conclusion: The results showed that changes in land use and its subsequent agricultural management caused a significant increase in the availability of nutrients, derived mainly from the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers, generating a positive effect on the yields of avocado and queensland nut crops, where specifically, there were substantial increases with conventional management practices.