Influence of land use on hydro-physical soil properties of Andean páramos and its effect on streamflow buffering

The páramos biome of the northern Andes is a collection high-mountain tropical grassland wetland ecosystems that provides important ecosystem services including hydrological buffering and water supply. Human activities in these transform vegetation cover soil hydro-physical properties, affecting their performance quality quantity. Here, we conducted systematic review on influence land use (agriculture, livestock grazing, afforestation) properties páramo soils analyzed its implications for streamflow buffering. Our protocol identified 32 relevant papers, from which key linked to variability were available: organic matter (SOM), carbon (SOC), porosity, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, retention capacity (WRC). analysis shows with native are characterized by porous structure allows high WRC SOM content. Agriculture increases macroporosity but it leads bare fallow plots promote loss nutrients SOM. Burning generates hydrophobic aggregates affect WRC. Livestock grazing produces compaction reducing infiltration Lastly, afforestation exotic species (e.g. pines, eucalyptus) decreases changing structure. In general, land-use generate aggregates, increase erosion runoff, impair capacity. This integrated evidence multiple empirical studies can be used effectively communicate effects different practices soils, provide information modelling data-scarce situations, contribute decision making processes planning conservation.