Agriculture changes soil properties on the Galápagos Islands – two case studies

Agricultural expansion on the Galápagos Islands significantly alters soil properties, threatening sustainability. A study comparing arable and forest soils on Santa Cruz (El Cascajo) and San Cristóbal (Cerro Verde) found that intensive farming reduces organic carbon stocks by 25% at Cerro Verde—though not significantly at El Cascajo—and decreases microbial biomass carbon and dissolved organic carbon. Nutrient imbalances, such as increased nitrate-N and decreased ammonium-N, along with pesticide residues, suggest agrochemical impacts. These findings highlight the need for sustainable agricultural practices to preserve soil health in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gerzabek, M. H., Bajraktarevic, A., Keiblinger, K., Mentler, A., Rechberger, M., Tintner, J., Wriessnig, K., Gartner, M., Valenzuela, X. S., Troya, A., Couenberg, P. M., Jäger, H., Carrión, J. E., & Zehetner, F. (2019). Agriculture changes soil properties on the Galápagos Islands – two case studies. Soil Research, 57(3), 201–214. https://doi.org/10.1071/sr18331