El propósito de esta investigación fue determinar los estilos de aprendizaje por género y carrera, así como las estrategias de enseñanza más efectivas en educación superior en Ecuador. Se tomó como grupo focal a estudiantes de Edafología de la Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL) y se desarrolló un estudio descriptivo, utilizando el Cuestionario Honey-Alonso de Estilos de Aprendizaje (CHAEA); además, se consultaron las estrategias que más impactaron en la enseñanza. Las preferencias fueron de moderadas a bajas para los cuatro estilos de aprendizaje según la carrera y género; las estrategias más efectivas fueron: video, clase magistral y trabajo de campo-laboratorio-aula. Se evidenció que los educandos no aprenden de una única manera, sino que tienen diversos estilos de aprendizaje, por lo que se deberían aplicar estrategias que amplíen el rango de capacidades de aprendizaje.

Forest site classification adapted to the respective site conditions is one prerequisite for sustainable silviculture. This work aims to initiate the forest site classification for pine plantations in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. Forest productivity, estimated by the dominant height of 20-year-old trees (DH₂₀), was related to data from climate, topography, and soil using 23 plots installed in pine plantations in the province of Loja. Forest site productivity was classified as: low (class C: 13.4 m), middle (class B: 16.6 m), and high (Class A: 22.3 m). Strong determinants to differentiate the forest site classes were: the short to medium term available Ca and K stocks (organic layer + mineral soil standardized to a depth of 60 cm), soil acidity, the C:N ratio, clay and sand content, forest floor thickness, altitude, and slope. The lowest forest productivity (Class C) is mainly associated with the lowest short to medium term available K and Ca stocks. Whereas, in site classes with the highest forest productivity, pines could benefit from a more active microbial community releasing N and P, since the soil pH was about 1 unit less acidic. This is supported by the lowest forest floor thickness and the narrowest C:N ratio.

Urban flooding is a major problem in many coastal cities. The rapidly shifting patterns of land use and demographic increase are making conventional approaches to stormwater management fail. In developing countries such as Ecuador, a lack of monitoring, financial constraints and absence of proper policies exacerbate flooding problems. This work assesses the implementation of two Low Impact Development strategies (LIDs), namely, green streets and rain barrels, as nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding problems. The use of the “Stormwater Management Model” (SWMM) helped to contrast the new approach with the current state of the drainage system, including normal and extreme scenarios. With an implementation of 1.4% (19.5 ha) of the total area with LIDs, the reduction of runoff for short events (200 min) is around 20%, and for extreme events (within 24 h) is around 19% in comparison to the conventional approach. Flooded nodes were reduced to 27% for short events, and to 4% for extreme events. The peak flooding system had a reduction to 22% for short events and 15% for extreme events. These highlights help to increase city resilience, and authorities and stakeholders should engage in climate actions to reduce flood risks complementing drainage operations with nature-based solutions. Moreover, calibrated results in this article serve to increase awareness among municipal authorities regarding the importance of maintaining flooding records to improve modelling results for decision-makings processes.

This study aimed to (i) identify soil management practices implemented by farmers at the local level, (ii) determine the local soil fertility indicators recognized by farmers along an altitudinal gradient, (iii) evaluate the influence of altitude on soil properties, and (iv) integrate local and scientific knowledge of soil indicators and soil management. A total of 368 surveys were conducted to document traditional knowledge, visible indicators of soil fertility, and perceptions of soil health. These were compared with field-based measurements of soil organic carbon, texture, and environmental variables. A significant convergence was found between farmers’ perception of soil texture and scientific classification. A moderate correlation was observed between soil color and soil carbon stocks. Altitude showed a clear influence on carbon stocks, with soil at a higher elevation, characterized by greater rainfall and lower temperatures, storing more carbon. This integration of local and scientific knowledge offers practical value for farmers, extension agents, and institutions by supporting context-specific soil management decisions. It empowers farmers to actively participate in the design of sustainable agricultural practices that are both ecologically sound and culturally relevant. The study demonstrates that combining experiential knowledge with scientific data contributes to more resilient agroecosystems in mountainous rural areas.