Abstract

POCOMUCHA, Vicente S.; ALEGRE, Julio  and  ABREGU, Luís. Socioeconomic analysis and carbon stock in agroforestry systems with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Huánuco. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2016, vol.15, n.2, pp.107-114. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v15i2.750.

The study was conducted in the district of Jose Crespo y Castillo (Huanuco, Peru) to evaluate carbon stocks in agroforestry systems with cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). Total content of carbon was interrelated with social, economic and environmental factors of the families that produce cocoa. The research was carried out by applying a Likert questionnaire.to a representative sample of 36 cocoa producers belonging to the Association of Agricultural Producers. Carbon estimation was performed by measuring biomass and soil carbon using the methodology developed by Arevalo et al. (2003). The cocoa trees are diversified into four different simple shade trees with 69 trees ha-¹. The total average carbon accumulated in the cocoa systems was 131.18 t C ha-¹ (65.61 t C ha-¹ aerial biomass and 65.57 t C ha-¹ for the soil). The plot management is mainly for subsistence and cocoa yields are low (489 kg ha-¹). From the social aspects the producers show positive satisfaction attitudes in implementing the ASC (67%); in the intention of continuity (72%), motivation for agriculture (47%), working with the family (56%) and focus on the ASC (56%). The cocoa producers receive no benefit for environmental services to manage their cocoa plots, they only get fruits, seeds, wood and firewood.

Keywords : Biomass; agroforestry systems; social; economic; environmental factors; Likert.

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