Soil–vegetation–water interactions controlling solute flow and chemical weathering in volcanic ash soils of the high Andes

Abstract

Vegetation plays a key role in the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. It can influence soil water fluxes and transport, which are critical for chemical weathering and soil development. In this study, we investigated soil water balance and solute fluxes in two soil profiles with different vegetation types (cushion-forming plants vs. tussock grasses) in the high Ecuadorian Andes by measuring soil water content, flux, and solute concentrations and by modeling soil hydrology. We also analyzed the role of soil water balance in soil chemical weathering. The influence of vegetation on soil water balance and solute fluxes is restricted to the A horizon. Evapotranspiration is 1.7 times higher and deep drainage 3 times lower under cushion-forming plants than under tussock grass. Likewise, cushions transmit about 2-fold less water from the A to lower horizons. This is attributed to the higher soil water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity associated with a shallower and coarser root system. Under cushion-forming plants, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and metals (Al, Fe) are mobilized in the A horizon. Solute fluxes that can be related to plant nutrient uptake (Mg, Ca, K) decline with depth, as expected from biocycling of plant nutrients. Dissolved silica and bicarbonate are minimally influenced by vegetation and represent the largest contributions of solute fluxes. Soil chemical weathering is higher and constant with depth below tussock grasses but lower and declining with depth under cushion-forming plants. This difference in soil weathering is attributed mainly to the water fluxes. Our findings reveal that vegetation can modify soil properties in the uppermost horizon, altering the water balance, solute fluxes, and chemical weathering throughout the soil profile.