Abstract

ACOSTA-MIRELES, M.; CARRILLO-ANZURES, F.  and  DIAZ LAVARIEGA, M.. Determination of total carbon in mixed pine forests (Pinus patula Schl. et cham.). Terra Latinoam [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.2, pp.105-114. ISSN 2395-8030.

Carbon stocks were estimated in the aboveground (AG) and belowground (BG) compartments in stands differing in species composition in the Tlaxco, Tlaxcala, region in central Mexico. The AG stock was evaluated based on the biomass of each species. The biomass in pine was obtained using allometric equations with a 0.5 factor to derive the C content of individual trees. For mexican fir (Abies religiosa) a factor of 0.46 was used. Biomass in grass and herbs was obtained in 1 m² plots to obtain oven-dry biomass; in this case a 0.5 factor was used to convert biomass to C. Litter biomass was studied in some 0.25 m² quadrats. Dry matter was obtained and then the carbon percent determined. The BG carbon content was studied in soil samples that were taken at 0-20 cm and 21-40 cm layers. The subsamples of soil were dried and milled in a mill type Speck 8000 Mixer/Mill. Of the sifted material, the percentage of C was determined, which represented the C of the mineral part of the soil, and when C corresponding to the roots was added, the total C of the floor part was obtained. The greatest amount of C (301.9 Mg ha^-1) was concentrated in the fir-pine stand and the least in the pine stand (183.2 Mg ha^-1). In all the stands, the largest amount of C was concentrated in the upper 20 cm of the forest floor, decreasing with increasing depth of the soil. In the above-ground stratum, the trees contributed with the largest amount of C and this factor was directly related to basal area.

Keywords : soil carbon stocks; above-ground stratum; alometric equations.