Caracterización fisicoquímica de un suelo agrícola del cantón Quero, influenciado por las cenizas del volcán Tungurahua

Abstract

The importance of soil lies in its ecological function of providing an adequate infrastructure for the growth and development of living beings, such as plants, animals and even humans. However, many agricultural-oriented soils can contain different trace elements, such as metals, at different concentrations. Thus, this study aimed to characterize and evaluate an agricultural soil in the Quero city to identify its physicochemical properties and metal content of both geogenic and anthropogenic origin. Different physicochemical parameters of pH, humidity, conductivity, organic matter were analyzed and the following average values were determined: pH (5,506), moisture (76,232) percent, conductivity (0,103) Ds per m and organic matter (2,608) percent. As for the metal content were quantified by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry with two system of atomization: for graphite furnace and for flame; the elements analyzed were: Co, Sr, Pb, Ni, Cd, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu y Zn. Values were found within permissible limits except the Mg and Fe found above average in bibliographic comparison to certain agricultural soil studies, however, have no impact on soil quality and therefore their function. In conclusion, this agricultural soil does not contain harmful concentrations of trace elements that may affect its physicochemical properties.