Abstract

PEREZ-RAMIREZ, Silvia; RAMIREZ, M. Isabel; JARAMILLO-LOPEZ, Pablo F.  and  BAUTISTA, Francisco. Soil organic carbon content under different forest conditions: monarch butterfly biosphere reserve, Mexico. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2013, vol.19, n.1, pp.157-173. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2012.06.042.

Globally, the soil stores twice as much carbon as the atmosphere and nearly twice the amount stored in vegetation. Carbon storing capacity of the soil depends on its properties and land use. The aim of this study was to analyze the soil organic carbon content under different forest conditions within mountainous forests of the Monarch Butterfly Reserve in Mexico. We defined six sampling groups based on three forest conditions (conserved, harvested and disturbed) and two vegetation types (sacred fir and pine-oak). We calculated the carbon stock of four complete soil profiles in each group (N=24), starting with the A horizon. Results show differences in SOC content in soils under different forest types and forest conditions. Conserved sacred fir stands have an average SOC of 153 MgC·ha^-1, while harvested and disturbed stands have 95 and 125 MgC·ha^-1, respectively. In the pine-oak forests, average SOC content of conserved stands is 103 MgC·ha^-1, while harvested and disturbed stands are 39 and 13 MgC·ha^-1, respectively. Conserved forests hold 40-80 % of SOC within the A horizons. Therefore, SOC content should be taken into consideration when assessing the impact of forest management or any other forest conservation policy.

Keywords : Soil carbon; soil degradation; forest disturbance; forest harvesting; monarch butterfly habitat.

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