Luis Moncayo

Luis Moncayo


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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19 February 2025 in Forests
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FMFiodor N. Mena-Quintana
Fiodor N. Mena-Quintana
Willin Alvarez IrausquinWillin Alvarez Irausquin
Willin Alvarez Irausquin
WFWilfredo Ramiro Franco
Wilfredo Ramiro Franco
LMLuis Moncayo
Luis Moncayo
Myriam Mercedes TipánMyriam Mercedes Tipán
Myriam Mercedes Tipán
JGJholaus Manolo Ayala Gonzalez
Jholaus Manolo Ayala Gonzalez
Deforestation caused by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon has increased by 300% in the last decade, leading to severe environmental degradation of water and land resources. Effective remediation and revegetation technologies are still needed to address this issue. This study aimed to foster revegetation on 0.5 hectares of degraded land in Naranjalito, a mining site in the Ecuadorian Amazon, by applying plant-based biocompost and biochar and planting Ochroma pyramidale and Arachis pintoi, two pioneer species. The project’s objective was to evaluate the impact of these treatments on vegetation cover recovery through physicochemical and microbiological improvements in the soil. Four blocks and sixteen experimental plots were established: eight plots received treatments with varying doses of biocompost+biol (BIOC), four plots included plantations without biocompost (Not-BIOC), and four served as control plots (bare land). Over six months, dasometric characteristics of O. pyramidale and the expansion of A. pintoi were recorded. The data were analyzed using multivariate methods. The results revealed significant differences between treatments, with BIOC plots T4 and T1 showing greater improvements in vegetation development compared to Not-BIOC plots T3 and T2, confirming the positive influence of biocompost+biol. The BIOC treatment favored not only the planted species but also the secondary successional plant communities including certain grasses, leguminous plants, and other shrub and tree species, thus accelerating the revegetation process. This study demonstrates that biocompost application is an effective strategy to enhance plant recolonization on land severely degraded by gold mining in the Ecuadorian Amazon.