The Laboratory of Rehabilitation and Ecological Restoration (LARREA), from the Faculty of Environmental and Health Sciences of the National University of Comahue (UNCo), has delved into the study of microbiological processes in arid soils of Patagonia.
The work, published in the prestigious Journal of Arid Environments, highlights the potential of the alpataco, a characteristic shrub of arid areas in Argentina, with great adaptability and key ecological benefits.
### Alpataco and its role in environmental restoration
This shrub, also known as algarrobo, is highly resistant to extreme conditions, making it an ideal candidate for the recovery of degraded and desertified soils.
According to the director of LARREA, Daniel Pérez, the alpataco has shown a 90% survival rate in the field, even in areas with annual precipitation as low as 150 mm.
Moreover, the study revealed that the alpataco forms nitrogen-fixing nodules in its roots, thanks to symbiosis with rhizobia, bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into assimilable compounds like ammonia.
These nodules play an essential role in:
– Enriching arid soils, promoting biodiversity.
– Reactivating key ecological processes, restoring degraded ecosystems.
– Facilitating the arrival of other species, acting as “fertility islands”.
*”The substrate of the nursery influences the formation of these nodules. We have managed to optimize their development using native soils, artificial soils, and inoculated with bacteria,”* explained Pérez in an interview with the portal +P.
### Solution to desertification in Neuquén
With 30% of the territory affected by severe desertification, exacerbated by livestock farming and hydrocarbon exploitation, the alpataco emerges as a key tool for environmental restoration.
In areas where natural recovery does not occur, this species allows to reverse the process, promoting a greater soil regeneration capacity.
### A productive approach to strengthen its impact
The LARREA team also researches its application in mixed crops, achieving yields of up to 8 tons per hectare without the need for deforestation.
*”The desert can be cultivated if we choose species that maintain biodiversity and enrich the soil. It is a key necessity in this era,”* emphasized Pérez.
This finding aligns with national and international conservation programs, positioning the alpataco as an ecological and productive resource in the face of the challenges of desertification and biodiversity loss.
