Structural equations explaining the impact of soil physicochemical properties on the initial growth of Cedrelinga cateniformis (Duke) in alto Huallaga-Peru

Florida N.; Soto G.; Rengifo A.; Rodriguez N.P.; Prado E.G. · Environmental Challenges (2025) · DOI: 10.1016/j.envc.2025.101086

Resumen

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of soil physical (FI) and chemical (ChI) indicators on the initial growth (IG) of Cedrelinga cateniformis Duke in the Alto Huallaga region, Peru. It was hypothesized that soil physicochemical indicators negatively affect the initial growth of this species. The research was carried out in six locations: Buenos Aires (BA), Nueva Unión (NU), Vista Alegre (VA), Gervasio Santillana (GS), Chullachaqui (Ch) and Atahualpa (At), analyzing soil and plant samples from the third to the tenth month after field installation. The results reveal that soil physical and chemical indicators have a significant impact on the initial growth of C. cateniformis. The variable FI, composed of factors such as clay and silt, explains 56.19 % of the variance, while the variable ChI, which includes key nutrients such as calcium, potassium and pH, explains 66.36 %. In addition, it was observed that a 1 % increase in FI and ChI can reduce GI by up to 46.19 %. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that C. cateniformis has a remarkable potential as a species for agroforestry systems and programs for the recovery of degraded soils in the Peruvian Amazon. Its ability to adapt to clay and acid soils with low nutrient levels highlights its viability under adverse conditions. This study not only contributes to the understanding of the interactions between soil properties and the growth of forest species, but also provides a solid basis for future research on sustainable management practices in tropical ecosystems.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva