Estimación del impacto de la actividad del enduro en las propiedades hidrofísicas del suelo en el páramo de la cuenca alta del río Cinto

Abstract

In the paramo of the upper basin’s Cinto River (the Ecuadorian Andes) the presence of motorcycles has been registered due to the practice of enduro in the area since four decades ago. In this context, our research estimates the degree of impact of this practice by comparing the hydrophysical properties of two scenarios: one with intervention and the other without intervention. Four research sites were selected. At each site, in situ and in the laboratory analyses were carried out in order to determinate saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, moisture content, porosity and organic matter. Furthermore, statistical data processing was based on the one-way ANOVA test. The practice of this sport throughout the paramo has a negative incidence on the soil hydrophysical properties. The results of the superficial soil layer’s analysis of the scenario with intervention indicate a decrease in the saturated hydraulic conductivity by 66.1%, the moisture content by 27.34%, the organic matter by 8.8% and the porosity by 6.5%. In addition, the bulk density shows an increase of 12.9%. Overall, this shows that the original properties of the soil were altered causing a disturbance in the water regulation processes