Potential of silvopastoral systems for the generation of ecosystem services in an Andean landscape in Tolima, Colombia

Abstract

Livestock production systems have a great social, economic and environmental importance. The present research seeks to estimate the potential of the generation of ecosystem services (ES) of silvopastoral systems (SPS) in an Andean landscape in the municipality of Roncesvalles, Tolima, Colombia. Two main research hypotheses were established: 1) land use systems have an impact on ES, and 2) carbon in fine roots is correlated with some edaphic variables, which in turn are indicators of ES. Some ES indicators were selected, such as soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (P), soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and fine root biomass density. Pits were made in the selected areas and samples were taken with an auger and cylinder at two depths: 0 to 10 and 10 to 20 cm to analyze them. Higher SOC stock was estimated at a depth of 10 to 20 cm, while at depth 0 to 10 cm, a higher P was found. No statistical differences (p >0.05) in the carbon of fine roots between the treatments were detected, but there were greater values in the 0-10 cm depth than at 10-20 cm (20–30 and 6–8 t/ha, respectively). No statistical differences (p >0.05) in the other edaphic variables were detected between systems, but significant differences (P<0.05) were found between soil depths. Fine roots were found to have a positive impact on ES generation, as they improve soil quality indicators such as BD, P and SOC stock. These results show an improvement in soil conditions when establishing the SPS, which in turn generates ES.