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 toestimate the potential of the generation of ecosystem services (ES) of silvopastoral systems (SPS) in an Andean landscape in themunicipality of Roncesvalles, Tolima, Colombia. Two main research hypotheses were established: 1) land use systems have animpact on ES, and 2) carbon in fine roots is correlated with some edaphic variables, which in turn are indicators of ES. Some ESindicators were selected, such as soil bulk density (BD), total porosity (P), soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and fine root biomassdensity. Pits were made in the selected areas and samples were taken with an auger and cylinder at two depths: 0 to 10 and 10 to20 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 valuesin 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 edaphicvariables were detected between systems, but significant differences (P<0.05) were found between soil depths. Fine roots werefound to have a positive impact on ES generation, as they improve soil quality indicators such as BD, P and SOC stock. Theseresults show an improvement in soil conditions when establishing the SPS, which in turn generates ES.