Abstract

GONZALEZ LOYARTE, Margarita; RODEGHIERO, A.G.; BUK, E.  and  TRIONE, S.. Comparative analysis of two communities in the Prosopis flexuosa DC. forest in Northeastern Mendoza, Argentina. Multequina [online]. 2000, vol.9, n.1, pp.75-89. ISSN 1852-7329.

Native forest of Prosopis flexuosa in the Lavalle plain of Mendoza were logged with different intensity. This plain is a high desertification risk area where forest protects soils, therefore, sustenaible management become indispensable. This paper contributes to the knowledge of the status and reclamation of these forests. The aim was to study the open forest of P. flexuosa in the smooth wavy plain of NE Mendoza.Within the open forest two communities were distinguished: P. flexuosa with Suaeda divaricata and P. flexuosa with Tricomaria usillo. The first community was found on soils with more than 500 µS/cm of actual electric conductivity, and presented higher cover of annual plants and of soil erosion indicator species; the second one, more related to dunes, was found on soils with less than 500 µS/cm. Impact of logging and forest recovery was similar in both communities. It was impossible to verify if soil salinization was due to an increase in phreatic level owing to clear cutting.

Keywords : P. flexuosa; Electrical conductivity; Floristic composition.

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