Abstract

AVILES-HERNANDEZ, Virginia et al. Variation in soil carbon stocks in a toposequence. Agrociencia [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.5, pp.457-464. ISSN 2521-9766.

Information on the variation of carbon (C) stocks relative to soil topography is scarce. To determine the soil C variation, C stocks in the subsoil of a toposequence (hilltop, hillside, valley and plains) in a Fagus grandifolia subsp. mexicana forest were estimated. Three 400 m² observation plots were set up in each topographic position, and two sites within each plot were selected to measure the C stored in the subsoil (soil and roots) at depth intervals of 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 45 cm. Variation in soil C stores was found in an increasing gradient from hilltop to plains, as well as decreasing values with increasing depth. The largest total C stock was found on the plains (208 t C h^-1) and the lowest on the hilltop (159 t C ha^-1). The differences in C stocks found in different topographic conditions could be due to the differential speed of decomposition of organic matter of the dominant species in each condition, indicating that C stores change in function of the topography together with availability of resources in the system.

Keywords : Fagus grandifolia; mesophyll forest; carbon sequestration; forest productivity; environmental services.

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