Carbon Stock Assessment in Silvopastoral Systems along an Elevational Gradient: A Study from Cattle Producers in the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve, Ecuadorian Amazon

Bolier Torres (), Carlos Bravo, Alexandra Torres, Cristhian Tipán-Torres, Julio C. Vargas, Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo, Marco Heredia-R, Cecilio Barba and Antón García ()
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Bolier Torres: Facultad de Ciencia de la Vida, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Pastaza 160101, Ecuador
Carlos Bravo: Facultad de Ciencia de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Pastaza 160101, Ecuador
Alexandra Torres: Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas, Sociales y de la Educación, Universidad Técnica de Babahoyo, Extensión Quevedo (UTB), Km 3 1/2 Vía a Valencia, Los Ríos 120550, Ecuador
Cristhian Tipán-Torres: Ochroma Consulting & Services, Tena 150150, Ecuador
Julio C. Vargas: Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, Ecuador
Robinson J. Herrera-Feijoo: Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, Ecuador
Marco Heredia-R: Facultad de Ciencias Pecuarias y Biológicas, Universidad Técnica Estatal de Quevedo (UTEQ), Quevedo Av. Quito km, 1 1/2 Vía a Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Quevedo 120550, Ecuador
Cecilio Barba: Animal Science Department, University of Cordoba, Rabanales University Campus, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
Antón García: Animal Science Department, University of Cordoba, Rabanales University Campus, 14071 Cordoba, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Silvopastoral system (SPS) has been considered as a sustainable management system contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, among other benefits compared with open pasture. However, little research has been conducted on the soil and tree biomass carbon stored in traditional pasture with dispersed trees (PWT) compared with pasture in monoculture (PM). The present study was conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR), along an elevational gradient from 400 to 2000 masl., within the buffer and transition zone of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve (SBR), using 71 temporary circular plots of 2826 m 2 , where 26 plots were stablished in PWT and 45 plots in PM. The main results in PWT show significant differences ( p ≤ 0.01) between aboveground carbon biomass (AGC trees ) from 41.1 (lowlands), 26.5 (Middle hills) and 16.7 (high mountains) Mg ha −1 respectively, with an average of 31.0 Mg ha −1 in the whole study area. The total carbon pool along the altitudinal gradient in five components: (AGC trees ), belowground carbon (BGC trees ), pasture carbon (AGC litter+pasture ) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) for PWT ranged from 112.80 (lowlands) to 91.34 (high mountains) Mg ha −1 ; while for the PM systems assessing three components (AGC litter+pasture ) and carbon in soil components (0–10 and 10–30 cm) ranged from 52.5 (lowlands) to 77.8 (middle zone) Mg ha −1 . Finally, the paper shows the main dominant tree species in pasture systems that contribute to carbon storage along elevational gradient and concludes with recommendations for decision-making aimed at improving cattle ranching systems through a silvopastoral approach to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Keywords: biomass; carbon storage; pastureland; climate change mitigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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