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).