El Eucalipto y los suelos bajo clima mediterráneo

Laburpena

This paper deals with the negative effects attributed to the Eucalyptus plantations on soils. The quick expansion of these plantations in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, during the years 1950 to 1980, produced a strong reaction of cnservationist groups and biased public opinion against this tree. We make a brief review on the main threats to the soil caused by human activity, and, on this basis, we revise the existing contributions regarding soil impact by eucalyptuses, as long as the results of the author�s research team. Eucalyptus forests and its logging produce no increases in erosion, with respect to other Mediterranean forest cover, provided the correct execution of the soil conservation practices (terraces, contour lines, etc., depending on the steepness), as well as the maintenance of the natural cover at the main flow lines. Eucalypts do not cause significant increases in acidity of the soil; it may cause slight net withdrawals of some minerals such as Ca and Mg in highly deficient soils, which must be offset by a slight artificial fertilization. Eucalypts do not disrupt the biological activity in the soil; the understories of these plantations may have varying composition in species, depending on multiple factors; they also have a high microbial activity. The Eucalyptus plantations generally meet the criteria and principles of the certification schemes for sustainable forest management regarding soil conservation; we must take into account that they are artificial systems, oriented to wood yield, thus they are not comparable to natural forests.