Efecto de la humedad sobre la mineralización del carbono en suelos volcánicos de Costa Rica

Abstract

Soils derived from volcanic ashes (basaltic-andesitic materials from the Irazú and to Turrialba volcanoes) used in this study are located on the slopes of the Cordillera Central and the Meseta Central of Costa Rica. The CO2 evolution during incubation occurred at all moisture tensions studied. The highest CO2 production was reached at 0.3 bars, while the lowest evolution corresponded to the waterlogged conditions. The rate of CO2 evolution was greater in soils covered with recent ashes, this probably being due to the presence of fresh organic materials which do not form complexes with allophane that are as stable as in older volcanic profiles. The C-mineralization was higher during the first 3-week period of incubation. The microbial population appeared to be active.