Abstract

YERENA-YAMALLEL, José I.; JIMENEZ-PEREZ, Javier; AGUIRRE-CALDERON, Oscar A.  and  TREVINO-GARZA, Eduardo J.. Carbon concentration in the above-ground biomass in the tamaulipan thornscrub. Rev. Chapingo [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.2, pp. 283-291. ISSN 0186-3231.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2010.02.004.

The carbon concentration per unit of biomass (dry weight basis) was determined for 10 species in the Tamaulipan thornscrub and for each of their components (bole, branches, twigs, leaves and bark). Carbon concentration expressed as a percentage of biomass was obtained using a Solids TOC Analyzer, which determines the carbon concentration in solid samples by complete combustion. By ANOVA, no differences were found among the species in average carbon concentration (P>0.05). This concentration ranged from 44.25 to 47.08 % with an overall average of 45.4±1.32 %. Cordia boissieri (44.25±1.52 %) and Acacia farnesiana (44.52±1.37 %) are the species that had the lowest carbon concentration values, while Forestiera angustifolia (47.08±1.27 %) had the highest. The bark component of Cordia boissieri obtained the lowest carbon concentration percentage (39.62±0.70 %), while the leaves of Acacia schaffneri had the highest (50.14±1.21 %). The interaction of both factors was significant (P<0.0001).

Keywords : Global warming; carbon storage; Cordia boissieri; Acacia farnesiana; Forestiera angustifolia.