Net primary productivity (NPP) is defined as the rate at which biomass accumulates per unit of area and time, and is considered to be an inclusive variable of ecosystem functioning. Stripping and land use changes affecting a large part of the semi-arid Chaco region can have an impact on C’s total gains and seasonality. Previous work in the region uses spectral vegetation indices as subrogue of the PPN. However, they arrive at mixed results and are limited only to what happens to the aerial part (PPNA), without considering changes in the underground portion (PPNS), which usually vary between fisonomic vegetation types. Based on the radiation use efficiency model, spectral information derived from remote sensors and PPNS/NPP relationships in the literature, the objective of this work was to quantify the effect of transformation on land use and cover on PPN, and its seasonal variation. In particular, the change of the PPN into agricultural and silvopastoral systems with a variable woody component, compared to the original forest, was assessed. Overall, land uses with higher air productivity were found to show lower levels of underground productivity at the same time. The double trigo-maize crop had the largest total PPN, significantly higher than silvopastoral systems between 5 and 25 % tree cover, and the cultivation of trigo-soya and soya beans. However, their productivity did not vary significantly from that of the forest, megatermic pastures and prime maize. The results obtained not only provide substantial information to conclude quantitatively in terms of the magnitude of the change in dry matter units, but also make it possible to establish a more appropriate order or ranking of soil cover and use in terms of total productivity. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.20.30.1.0.961