Changes in soil properties with the establishment of Pinus greggii Engelm. ex Parl. forest plantations, on marginal lands in Durango, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: Evaluate the changes in the physicochemical properties of the soil and organic carbon in a P. greggii plantation on marginal land with previous agricultural use.

Methodology: Two plots were compared: agricultural use vs. forest use, in La Soledad, Canatlán, Durango, analyzing various physicochemical soil properties and organic carbon on two dates (2023 and 2024). The effects of land use, time, and their interaction were determined using a mixed linear model (α = 0.05), with the plot considered as a random factor. A multivariate principal component analysis was performed to identify patterns of association between the variables and determine their sensitivity to the type of land use.

Results: There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two land uses in phosphorus, potassium, organic matter (SOM), and total organic carbon (TOC), with interactions with the evaluation time. The plantation increased phosphorus, SOM, and TOC levels by 58 %, 27 %, and 29 %, respectively, compared to agricultural soil. Cation exchange capacity, calcium, and magnesium explained the greatest variation in both land uses, but in the plantation, in addition to these three variables, the response was also associated with SOM and COT.

Limitations on study: Further studies are needed to examine the rate of nutrient recycling in litter.

Conclusions: The plantation improved soil fertility and favored the accumulation of organic matter and carbon, highlighting its potential for the recovery of degraded soils.