Balance hídrico en plantaciones de Pinus radiata en el NO de la Patagonia argentina

In the Patagonia Andean Region, silvopastoral system success depends on forestry management, which seeks to guarantee highest water input into the soil to forage production. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare different components of the water balance in a Pinus radiata forest under two different management practices: silvopastoral and forest treatment (325 and 622 trees/ha, respectively). In order to explain incident precipitation distribution within the forest, different variables were measured: direct precipitation, stemflow, interception, soil moisture content, percolation and evapotranspiration. Additionally, canopy cover, leaf area index (LAI) and forage production was determined. Silvopastoral system, with respect to forest system, presented higher direct precipitation (84±1 vs. 75±2%), lower stemflow (2±0.3 vs. 3±0.27%), lower interception (14±1 vs. 22±2%), higher soil moisture content (24.2±2.5 vs. 20.9±2.1%) and lower canopy cover (70.9±0.05 vs. 74.89±0.34%). In turn, percolation (0.33±0.12 vs. 0.11±0.08%), evapotranspiration (78.2 vs. 73.3%), pasture production (230.76±97.57 vs. 66.60±60.02 kg MS.ha-1.year-1) and LAI (1.28±0.04 vs. 1.31±0.02) were similar in both systems. These results show that management density modified only some components of water balance. However, adding more water the silvopastoral system was not reflected in an increase in pasture production. Density management is key, mainly in silvopastoral system, where different system components must be raised up for a more efficient water usage. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.19.29.2.0.776