Table 2.
As can be seen, although there was a decrease with depth, in most land
uses especially in Chakra_A, Cattle_A and Cattle_B - the values
obtained are considered adequate and are above the critical limit of 0.5
cm ha-1 (Pla, 2010).
This behaviour is related to the aeration porosity, the textural and
structural condition that favours the penetration and movement of water
in the soil profile, especially in the surface horizon (0-10cm). The
total porosity (TP) of the soil showed no significant differences,
showing high levels regardless of type of coverage or depth, with values
close to 90% and above the critical threshold (60%). The TP values
obtained were closely related to bulk density (BD), suggesting that a
higher density meant a lower TP and vice versa. Independently of the
soil cover in the total pore fraction (TP), micropores or retention
pores predominate over macropores (AP >15µm) (Table 2),
which gives the soil a high moisture retention capacity, related to the
predominantly clayey textural class. However, when analysing the
fraction of the macropores, values ranging from 12 to 24% were recorded
on the surface horizon, while for the second layer (10-30cm) it varied
between 9 and 14%, showing a pattern inverse to the bulk density and
above the 10% threshold (Pla, 2010). A
10% AP allows for a good transmission of water, air, heat, thereby
facilitating root growth, as well as improving soil quality and the
soil’s productive potential (Bravo,
Torres, et al., 2017; Taboada & Álvarez,
2008).