Resumen

RODRIGUEZ, N et al. Selection of soil quality indicators in three land use types in the Coro plain, Falcon State. Rev. Fac. Agron. [online]. 2009, vol.26, n.3, pp.340-361. ISSN 0378-7818.

In order to select soil quality indicators, the impact of the main land use type (LUT) over some soil physical, chemical, biological and hydrological variables were evaluated in "El Cebollal" of Coro plain. Three land uses were evaluated: natural forest, which was used as a reference for building the environmental gradient (LUT-F); Aloe (Aloe vera L.) under irrigation and organic fertilization for gel production (LUT-A); and a muskmelon (Cucumis melo) system with chemical fertilization and conventional tillage (LUT-M). Soil samples were taken at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm for the physical, chemical and biological variables quantification. The study was analyzed as a completely random design and a main components analysis was carried out for selecting the indicators, taking into account only those parameters with correlation equal or over 0.70 with the main component. Five soil quality indicators were selected: bulk density, infiltration speed, soil respiration, P content and pH. The LUT-A and the LUT-F showed a similar behavior, with equal soil quality, as a better fertility consequence of a determined by organic matter and biological activity increases. The LUT-M reduced its soil quality as indicated by an increase in its electrical conductivity and bulk density.

Palabras clave : soil quality; indicators; land uses type.