EDAFOLOGIA, Vol. 10 (2), pp. 207-213, 2003


PARÁMETROS FÍSICO-QUÍMICOS QUE INFLUYEN EN LA ERODIBILIDAD DE ANDOSOLES Y SUELOS ÁNDICOS BAJO VEGETACIÓN FORESTAL (I. CANARIAS)


J.L. MORA, J.A. GUERRA, J.S. NOTARIO, A. RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ, C.D. ARBELO


Departamento de Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez s/n 38204 La Laguna, Tenerife, I. Canarias. e-mail: anto-
roro@ull.es

 


Abstract

The sensitivity of Andosols to water erosion in a forest environment (Garajonay National Park, Gomera, Canary Islands) has been studied by evaluating USLE’s erodibility factor (K), the actual susceptibility of soil to separation by means of two tests for measuring the stability of aggregates, and its relationship with relevant physicochemical properties. The results show the limited validity of the con- ventional estimation of erodibility in andic soils, where the sensitivity towards erosion is mostly related to their content in organometallic compounds.


Key words: Andosols, aggregate stability, erodibility, Canary Islands