The Polylepis genus, endemic to the South American Andes, faces significant threats due to environmental variations, which jeopardize its growth and survival. This situation underscores the urgent need to develop conservation strategies. The present research assesses the influence of meteorological variables, such as temperature and humidity, on the growth and adaptation of various Polylepis species in the central Peruvian Andes, aiming to optimize reforestation and sustainable management practices. The study was conducted in experimental plots at the Santa Ana Agricultural Station in Junín, Peru, where Polylepis saplings, obtained from different localities, were planted. Over two years, phenotypic variables (height and diameter) and meteorological variables (precipitation, humidity, temperature, and wind speed) were monitored to evaluate the relationship between environmental condition...

This article calls for reflection on the importance of water as a natural resource increasingly necessary and scarce in the environment, where rainwater harvesting will have to become an important part of our lives if we are to enjoy a sustainable future. The objective of this work was to develop a historical and bibliographical review to defne the ancestral techniques and methods of rainwater harvesting and storage that can be used and applicable in the PeruvianAndes. It was carried out based on an approach to the history of the management of rainwater resources through different civilizations, continents and epochs. It can be concluded that the return and revaluation of these ancestraltechniques and methods is urgent for the populations, which supported by conventional engineering and rainwater harvesting systems can be transformed into a real initiative that allows extending the avail...

Among solar energy technologies, differences exist in terms of costs, performance, and environmental sustainability. Flatplate solar collectors, solar towers, and parabolic dish systems offer high thermal efficiency and versatility, but they may be more costly and bulky compared to other collector models. This study focused on evaluating the efficiency of a cylindrical parabolic collector (CPC) for the production of domestic hot water in a high Andean region of Peru, using the F-Chart method. Its performance was estimated considering the energy demand for hot water in a single-family home with four occupants, in accordance with national regulations and international recommendations. Additionally, the collector area, water temperature, and incident solar radiation were determined based on meteorological data obtained using the PVsyst software. On the other hand, the F-Chart methodology wa...

Resumen– Las tecnologías que se utilizan en la actualidad para tratar el recurso hídrico implican la generación de impactos negativos sobre el ambiente, por lo que es necesario la búsqueda de alternativas para el tratamiento del agua basada en el empleo de coagulantes naturales, sobre todo si el agua a tratar es destinada para consumo humano, por ello el objetivo de este trabajo de investigación es analizar la aplicación del almidón de Solanum tuberosum (papa) como coagulante natural en el tratamiento del agua de la Laguna Punrún. Para su desarrollo se empleó la metodología de Ttito y Chama que incluye los procesos de adquisición, lavado, corte, molienda, filtrado, secado y tamizado para la obtención del almidón de papa como coagulante natural, además de la prueba de jarras para determinar la dosis óptima del coagulante. Las muestras de agua fueron extraídas de 3 puntos...

Heavy metal contamination in rivers is a serious environmental and public health concern, especially in areas affected by mining. This study evaluated the levels of contamination and the associated ecological and carcinogenic risks in the sediments of the Cunas River, located in the central highlands of Peru. Sediment samples were collected from upstream and downstream sections. Several metals and metalloids were analyzed, including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). The ecological risk assessment focused on ten of these elements, while carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed for seven metals selected based on their toxicological importance. The results showed that Cd and Pb concentrations were higher in the downstream section. Cd and As excee...

River floods are common natural phenomena that occur when the flow of water exceeds the capacity of a river due to excessive rainfall. In the Peruvian territory, the heavy rains of 2010 had consequences of great magnitude, leaving more than 5000 people affected and 25 dead in the Peruvian Andes. This research aimed to analyze and determine the level of risk due to river floods in communities of the Peruvian Andes in terms of hazard and vulnerability, using a semi-quantitative methodology and applying a multi-criteria analysis with vector information and raster from the national spatial data infrastructure that acted as triggering and conditioning factors, as well as conducting fieldwork with the application of targeted surveys. Then, the geoprocessing of thematic maps through GIS software was carried out. The research findings indicate that virtually the entire study area, approximately ...

The biomass that accumulates on the forest floor and its subsequent decomposition play an important role in maintaining the productivity of different terrestrial ecosystems by constituting the main nutrient flow to the soil. The objective of the study focused on analyzing the nutrient contribution to the soil derived from the aboveground biomass of three native forest species in relict forests of the Central Peruvian Sierra with socioeconomic and environmental relevance. Using random delineation methods, soil samples were collected at 20-30 cm depth, which were subjected to physical, chemical, and biological analyses, developing the determination of a Soil Quality Index (SQI). The results highlight that forests of Polylepis racemosa and Alnus acuminata significantly exhibit a higher SQI, with values of 0.66 and 0.58, respectively, compared to Escallonia resinosa, with the forestless syst...

Remote sensing is essential in precision agriculture as this approach provides high-resolution information on the soil's physical and chemical parameters for detailed decision making. Globally, technologies such as remote sensing and machine learning are increasingly being used to infer these parameters. This study evaluates soil fertility changes and compares them with previous fertilization inputs using high-resolution multispectral imagery and in situ measurements. A UAV-captured image was used to predict the spatial distribution of soil parameters, generating fourteen spectral indices and a digital surface model (DSM) from 103 soil plots across 49.83 hectares. Machine learning algorithms, including classification and regression trees (CART) and random forest (RF), modeled the soil parameters (N-ppm, P-ppm, K-ppm, OM%, and EC-mS/m). The RF model outperformed others, with R² values of...