Abstract

MARCOS SOLORIO, Beatriz et al. Biomass of the native maize (Zea mays) production systems as an alternative to carbon capture. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.3, pp.361-367. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2016.32.03.10.

In order to obtain quantitative information on the carbon sequestration potential of corn, four native maize varieties (black, yellow, white and cacahuacintle) under three contrasting environments (mountain, valley and plain) were evaluated. In the moun-tain environment (Jiquipilco, State of Mexico) the temperature and rainfall during the crop cycle was 16 °C and 818.5 mm, respectively and in the valley (Temoaya, State of Mexico) was 16 °C and 768.8 mm, respectively. Plots were seeded on may 8, 2013. The plain crops (Culiacan, Sinaloa) were seeded on december 19, 2013, and the average temperature and precipitation was 23 °C and 44.1 mm respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the concentration of carbon between varieties is statistically different (P < 0.05). The yellow variety had the highest value (34.3 tCO2eq/ha), while the black and cacahuacintle varieties had the lowest binding capacity, with an average of 24.5 tCO2eq/ha for each. The mountain and valley environments presented the highest values of carbon fixing (41.6 tCO2eq/ha) compared to those of plain (11.4 tCO2eq/ha), and they were also statistically different. It is concluded that production systems with native corn varieties can be considered as an alternative to carbon fixation.

Keywords : climate change; carbon sequestration; carbon equivalents; farming systems; contrasting environments.