Soil properties distributed along a longitudinal transect of Southern Chile

Abstract

Changes in climatic, topographic, and vegetational conditions can be detected through soil transects. This study surveys the variation of soil properties along a longitudinal transect. Soil samples were collected at five sites distributed between Coñaripe (A) and Mehuín (E) in the Los Ríos region. Properties such as: i) bulk density (ρ_b), ii) soil organic carbon (COS), iii) extractable Al (Al_a) and iv) pH were determined; in addition, the C stock was calculated. Correlation (r-Pearson) and simple regression analyses were performed between soil properties. The relationship between pH and COS was inverse (r = -0.86) and direct between Al_a and ρ_b (r = 0.83) but did not imply causality. Soil C accumulation function increased from the Andean foothills towards the Intermediate Depression, reaching its maximum in the Pelchuquín soil series (Eutric Fulvudand).