Abstract

LAPEYRE, Tatiana; ALEGRE, Julio  and  AREVALO, Luis. Determination of carbon reserves of the aerial biomass in different land use systems in San Martin, Peru. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2004, vol.3, n.1-2, pp.35-44. ISSN 1726-2216.

Carbon (C) reserves of the aerial biomass were determined, to evaluate the potential of C captures in different land uses in the region of, San Martin, Perú. The land use systems (LUS) were: Primary forest, secondary forest of different ages, traditional agricultural maize systems (Zea maiz), rice (Oriza Sativa), pastures (Brachiaria) and coffee agroforestry systems (Coffea arabica) under shade and cocoa (Cacao sp.) also under shade. These LUS were compared with other LUS of other regions of Perú and the loss of C reserves were monitored after land clearing of the forest for cropping. Five random transects for each land use system and within each of these transects; tree and herbaceous biomass and litter biomass were monitored. Total C in primary forest was 485 tm C ha-1, much higher than the carbon reserves of the 50 years secondary forest (234 tm C ha-1 which is 50% lost ) and the 20 years logged forest (60 485 tm C ha-1 which is 80% lost). The level of C reserves in the biomass litter of the wooded systems is not significant when compared with the total of the C reserves of the aerial biomass; nevertheless it is significant for agroforestry systems. The agroforestry systems sequestered between 19 a 47 tm C ha-1 and varied in tree species, type and age of crop, soil class and recovered the C capture potential in a productive way. The cropping systems sequestered low levels of C (5 tm C ha-1) and generated greenhouse gas emissions (GGE) when burning or over use of agrochemicals or other inputs, are imployed.

Keywords : carbon; sequestering; land use systems; agroforestry.

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