Soil Organic Carbon as Response to Reforestation Age and Land Use Changes: A Qualitative Approach to Ecosystem Services

Diêgo Faustolo Alves Bispo (), Danielle Vieira Guimarães, João José Granate de Sá e Melo Marques, Adnane Beniaich, Salvador Francisco Acuña-Guzman, Marx Leandro Naves Silva and Nilton Curi
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Diêgo Faustolo Alves Bispo: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Danielle Vieira Guimarães: Technological and Research Institute of Sergipe State (ITPS), Aracaju 49020-380, SE, Brazil
João José Granate de Sá e Melo Marques: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Adnane Beniaich: Department of AgroBioSciences, Agricultural Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (AITTC), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir 43150, Morocco
Salvador Francisco Acuña-Guzman: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Marx Leandro Naves Silva: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil
Nilton Curi: Department of Soil Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras 37200-900, MG, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: The proper management of soil, in order to improve ecosystem services, requires knowledge of how different fractions of carbon respond to land use/land cover changes. This study aimed to evaluate the responses of total soil organic carbon, and its fractions, to reforestation age and land use changes in an Ultisol in the Posses catchment, a pilot area of the Brazilian program of Payment for Environmental Services, located in Southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted using field plots with various treatments, including native forest, old and young reforestation, well-managed pasture, subsistence farming, degraded pasture, and bare soil. Results showed that soil organic carbon increased with reforestation age and that original soil carbon stocks were restored after eight years of reforestation. Short-time pasture management increased the carbon pool by 10% compared to degraded pasture. The Carbon Management Index (CMI) was able to distinguish the effects of converting degraded pasture to either subsistence farming or bare soil. The CMI is a useful tool for determining the effects of land use/land cover changes, reforestation age, and native forest preservation on soil quality. Adequate management of soil fertilization is an immediate option for restoring the quality of Ultisols under degraded pastures in the Posses sub-basin.

Keywords: soil carbon dynamic; environmental tradeoffs; soil quality; labile C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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