DEVELOPMENT OF WATER REPELLENCY IN SOIL AFFECTED BY FOREST FIRES IN A METROPOLITAN PARK AREA OF THE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OF QUITO

Soil exposure to high temperatures during wildfires can induce water repellency, in some cases having the following effects: changes in soil nutrient, carbon and organic matter admission rates; soil loss; changes in the stability of aggregates; the appearance of preferential flow of water; and eventually, erosion. This work determined the severity and persistence of water repellency on a previously scorched soil in an 13.4 hectares area of the Metropolitan Park of Quito. To determine the persistence of soil water repellency the time of penetration of a drop of water (WDPT) methodology was used, and to test the repellency severity the molarity of ethanol (MED) test was used. The highest values of water repellency and organic material were identified four months after the fire, as well as a decrease of both measures as time went by, which demonstrated that the fire created a transferring of hydrophobic organic compounds into the soil, generating temporary water repellency.