Propuesta de restauración ecológica para formación de capa orgánica en el predio occidental de la Escuela de Artillería General Carlos Julio Gil Colorado del Ejército Nacional de Colombia

Abstract

This internship was developed with the aim of promoting the sustainable use of plant waste generated in pruning and felling activities of the maintenance of urban trees carried out by the Monte & Ciudad Corporation. This waste, which usually ends up in landfills, has great potential in the reformation of soils, as composted fertilizer, biofuel, among others. However, the process faced administrative challenges and required communication from multiple institutions, the Reserve Officers carried out an accompaniment from the 13th Brigade in order to carry out this strategic alliance (main link with the National Army); an ecological restoration process was established on the western site of the Artillery School, with the aim of forming an organic layer on the soil and promoting sustainable practices for the management of plant waste. The methodology included qualitative and quantitative approaches. A literature review was carried a bibliographic review on ecological restoration, waste management and soil reformation, as well as interviews with experts in restoration, soil management and management of this type of waste. In the field, an experimental plot of 12x12 meters was implemented, where 57 m³ of plant waste of various tree species were distributed. In addition, a soil analysis was carried out to evaluate the physical-chemical state before the intervention. These results allow the identification of the opportunity for intervention through the plant residue. The property in question has arid soils and lacks nutrients, lack of moisture in the soil and yellow color in the pastures, the property in its beginnings was a farm which housed livestock for several years (Finca La Loyola later Granja de la Picota project) (Ejercol, n.d) likewise at the end of 2023 there was a forest fire which affected 16 plots with a total of 0.083 ha (SDA, 2024), thanks to this series of an opportunity for the improvement of soil conditions through the use of plant residue, the soil of the Artillery School is a sandy clay loam soil which has characteristics of a balanced mixture of sand (30%), clay (40%) and silt (30%), which gives it intermediate properties of drainage, water retention and nutrients. clay provides a greater capacity for water and nutrient retention, this type of soil has great capacities for cultivation it is a matter of preparing or fertilizing it correctly, in this case study plant residues were used in a method called mulching this process consists of covering the arable layer or fertile soil with dry materials such as leaves, grass, branches, crop residues, straw etc. A mulch cover performs the activity of soil organisms such as earthworms that help create a soil structure with quite a few large and small pores, through which rainwater it can easily infiltrate the soil, thus reducing runoff at the surface; as the mulch rots, it increases the content of organic matter in the soil (Manssur, Farias, Romero. 2018) which is the main objective of this internship. As for the chemical results, the pH is at a level of 6.80 which indicates that it is a neutral soil which to a certain extent is good but this neutrality indicates low availability of micronutrients (Baquero, s, f), we also find a high availability of phosphorus (P) 33.6, when there is an excess of phosphorus in the soil, Plants may experience an imbalance in nutrient uptake. This can lead to a lower availability of other essential nutrients, such as iron, resulting in nutritional deficiencies that affect plant growth and development (Jardín de Nod, 2024), the general result of this soil study ratifies that there is no organic layer and that fertility is almost zero, we are in the presence of a soil with low levels of cation exchange capacity (CEC) which for the soil is fundamental for the exchange of nutrients, the higher the CEC the greater the fertility and presence of organic layer in the soil, which allows optimal conditions for the ecological restoration established in the proposal. Despite the administrative challenges, the internship left all the objectives set in motion. As for the first objective, there is evidence of progress in the structure of the soil. The supply of nutrients takes time since it is essential that the organic matter decomposes so that it can be absorbed by the surface soil and recover the organic layer, the ideal is to carry out a new soil analysis within 6 months, to evidence the contribution at the chemical level of the plant residue, the complete rehabilitation of the soil depends entirely on the amount of plant residue that is deposited in the plot and therefore assuming its decomposition and the conditions climate, so the full results will be seen in a few years. For the second objective, an active ecological restoration strategy was established since the ecosystem was intervened, likewise within the proposal the restoration was focused on the reformation of soils through plant waste, this will be the starting point for the ecosystem to recover its environmental health, the use of vegetable waste provides a high amount of organic fraction whose application from the agricultural point of view, forestry or environmental (recovery of soils for no other purposes) can be very useful. Its use in this sense allows the waste to be given a second use, incorporating this type of practices into the circular economy and contributing to the reformation of soils (organic matter, macro and micronutrients contained in this fraction); This fact constitutes a closed cycle for it, using its resources and returning them to an ideal environment such as the soil, restoring in part what is permanently being extracted from nature. (Guerrero, Gómez, Mataix, 2007). Within the problems of the Artillery School, it is important to highlight the need for environmental education for the restoration to be carried out successfully; the support and understanding by the population of the School is essential for the management to be sustainable and last over time, it is necessary to implement an environmental education program being the third objective of the internship, a formal presentation was made to the high command of the Artillery School this in order for them to fully know the process and the need for this ecological restoration proposal on the premises, the National Army is a strategic ally for the preservation and conservation of the environment since within its guidelines the environment is a priority; An environmental talk was also given to 500 soldiers who showed great interest in the faced with the proposal and different environmental issues, many questions arose within the talk, all of them were given an assertive and easy-to-understand answer, they were also given educational material in physical form (brochure) and an infographic virtually so that the information reached more people, this material was designed with simple language, with a pleasant visual about the importance of this type of project, the ecosystem services provided by the soil, why environmental projects make a difference in the community and the fundamentals of environmental education for the care of the environment that today is being more affected by human activities. These efforts made it possible to lay the foundations for sustainable ecological restoration, evidencing the importance of integrated management of plant residues in soil reshaping processes.