EFECTO DE LA MATERIA ORGÁNICA Y EL MANEJO SOBRE LA HIDROFOBICIDAD DE SUELOS VOLCÁNICOS

Soil water repellence or hidrofobicity depends on a strong interaction among the mineral and organic soils fractions. The content of organic matter is an determinant factor of water repellence. A positive relationship between the content of organic matter and water repellence can be observed, however, not all organic matter may cause repellence in the soil matrix. More than the amount of organic compounds, the quality characteristics impact the hidrofobicity of soil. It is possible to find two types of repellencies:) natural and induced one. The repellence influence the magnitude of intermolecular electrical forces which act in the interface of solid-liquid-gas. This phenomenon can be evaluated by measuring the contact angle (θ) among these phases. Soil management influence water repellency, but this effect is reduced by intense mechanical labor. Hidrofobicity influence soil hydraulic characteristic, modifying preferential flows. The aim of this study was: i) determine the soil water repellency in three volcanic soils from southern of Chile in combinations with two managements (forest and prairie) and ii) to estimate the buffer capacity by using a hydrophilic compound in the volcanic soils. It was observed different contact angle, attributed to soil characteristics, but with a direct effect of vegetation type which contributed to organic materials top cause repellence in these soils. Soils with similar pedogenetic characteristics show different hydrophobic values for the same vegetation (forest or pastures). Soils humectation capacity depends of the quality of soil organic matter more than SOM total content. Buffer capacity of soils depended of the amount of SOM, and its interaction between mineral soil particles.