Abstract

KARLIN, M. S.; MORENO, M. A.; ROLLAN, A. A.  and  BACHMEIER, O. A.. Causes and effects of soil water dynamics over plant communities in Salinas Grandes, Catamarca (Argentina). Multequina [online]. 2013, vol.22, n.1, pp.23-36. ISSN 1852-7329.

In low lands of endorreic basins, the water table is responsible for moving salts along the solum according to soil granulometry. The development of halophyte plants in saline zones would promote the deposit of fine sand, forming lithological discontinuities. An analysis in the water table fluctuations is proposed through edaphic variables, and its influence over different plant communities. Edaphic variables were analyzed in different zones of Salinas Grandes (Catamarca), such as bulk density, sand percentage and carbonates, related to electrical conductivity, pH and the depth of the discontinuities. These variables were correlated with plant cover, biodiversity and minimum rangeland requirement. Sand content, characteristic of these lithological discontinuities, is important in the processes of capillary breakdown over the phreatic ascent with high content of soluble salts. The kind of deposited materials in the surface influences directly over the bulk density. The discontinuity enables root growth due to a lesser influence of the phreatic and lesser concentration of soluble salts. This phenomenon promotes a higher solubilization of alkaline earth carbonates.

Keywords : Water dynamic; Lithological discontinuity; Salinity; Vegetation.

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