Abstract

GARCIA-HERNANDEZ, Martha Alejandra et al. Variation of the Mean Infiltration Rate in Six Unperturbed Ecosystems. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.1, pp.21-27. ISSN 2395-8030.

The mean infiltration rate (MIR) of water in the soil of six ecosystems from the Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda was measured. Additionally, in pine forest the MIR was observed in sites with litter and in sites where litter was removed that emitted 100 mL water in tubes of 10.16 cm diameter. Litter depth varied from 4 to 5 cm in the pine and oak forest, as well as in the low tropical forest, while in the grassland and xeric scrub this layer was absent. We registered 31.30 ± standard error 4.02 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in pine forest with litter, 21.02 ± 3.20 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in oak forest, 20.55 ± 2.25 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in grassland, 15.45 ± 2.60 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in dry forest, 7.74 ± 1.70 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in Larrea tridentata xeric scrub, 6.01 ± 0.80 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in pine forest without litter and 2.61 ± 0.73 mL cm^-2 min^-1 in Acacia constricta xeric scrub. The presence of litter is a determinant factor that increases the water infiltration rate in the ecosystem. Other factors that seem to affect the MIR are: the proximity of water bodies, the edaphic texture and ecosystem age.

Keywords : litter; Sierra Gorda.