Effects of Land Use Change from Natural Forest to Livestock on Soil C, N and P Dynamics along a Rainfall Gradient in Mexico

Daniela Figueroa, Patricia Ortega-Fernández, Thalita F. Abbruzzini, Anaitzi Rivero-Villlar, Francisco Galindo, Bruno Chavez-Vergara, Jorge D. Etchevers and Julio Campo
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Daniela Figueroa: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Patricia Ortega-Fernández: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Thalita F. Abbruzzini: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Anaitzi Rivero-Villlar: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Francisco Galindo: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Bruno Chavez-Vergara: Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Jorge D. Etchevers: Colegio de Posgraduados, Campus Montecillos, Mexico State 56230, Mexico
Julio Campo: Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 20, 1-20

Abstract: The effects of converting native forests to livestock systems on soil C, N and P contents across various climatic zones are not well understood for the tropical region. The goal of this study was to test how soil C, N and P dynamics are affected by the land-use change from natural forests to livestock production systems (extensive pasture and intensive silvopastoral systems) across a rainfall gradient of 1611–711 mm per year in the Mexican tropics. A total of 15 soil-based biogeochemical metrics were measured in samples collected during the dry and rainy seasons in livestock systems and mature forests for land-use and intersite comparisons of the nutrient status. Our results show that land-use change from natural forests to livestock production systems had a negative effect on soil C, N and P contents. In general, soil basal respiration and C-acquiring enzyme activities increased under livestock production systems. Additionally, reduction in mean annual rainfall affected moisture-sensitive biogeochemical processes affecting the C, N and P dynamics. Our findings imply that land-use changes alter soil C, N and P dynamics and contents, with potential negative consequences for the sustainability of livestock production systems in the tropical regions of Mexico investigated.

Keywords: climate change; drought; rainfall regime; soil biogeochemistry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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