Abstract

RAZO ZARATE, Ramón et al. Carbon coefficients for shrubs and herbs of the fir forest of El Chico National Park. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.31, pp.58-67. ISSN 2007-1132.

The fir forest (Abies religiosa) comprises a mixture of species which perform the exchange of CO² with the atmosphere and allow the early formation of carbon; in this context, the objective of the actual study was to determine the coefficients of carbon for the species in the shrub and herbaceous layers in the fir forest of El Chico National Park. Twenty four species of shrubs and 17 species of herbs were selected; five specimens of each species were collected and a sample of their air components was taken to integrate a compound sample, which were dried and pulverized to be analyzed with the Toc Solids Analyzer equipment. The results showed significant differences (p≤0.01) between the shrub and herbaceous species and between both groups; Juniperus monticola showed the highest coefficient of carbon (0.54) and Senecio platanifolius the lowest (0.41). In herbaceous, Notholaena sinuata obtained a carbon coefficient of 0.50 while Anagalis arvensis had the lowest coefficient (0.38), these coefficients are lower than 0.50 which are suggested by the IPCC when coefficients are not available by species. It is concluded that the studied species of shrub layer in the fir forest in El Chico National Park had a range of carbon coefficient from 0.41 to 0.50, and the average value was 0.45 which should be used as coefficient of biomass conversion to carbon in this stratum. For the herbs, the range was from 0.38 to 0.50 and an average of 0.43.

Keywords : Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. et Cham.; shrubs; fir forest; biomass; herbs; organic matter.

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