Carbon stocks and changes in tropical secondary forests of southern Mexico

Aryal, Deb Raj; Jong, Bernardus Hendricus jozeph De; Ochoa-Gaona, Susana; Esparza-Olguín, Ligia G.; Mendoza‐Vega, Jorge

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2014.06.005

Cited by 73 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…All the traps were placed at a height of about 1 m above the ground surface around the plots, in which other experiments were also taking place (Aryal et al 2014). The litter samples collected were placed in paper bags and transported to the laboratory for processing.…”

Section: Litter Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forest floor litter samples (O horizon) and mineral soil samples down to 0.30 m depth (0-0.10, 0.11-0.20 and 0.21-0.30 m separately) were collected from four random locations in each plot, using standard procedures (Aryal et al 2014). Forest floor litter was separated visually into three classes (Oi, Oe and Oa horizons) as the carbon fraction of the forest floor litter Carbon in litter and soil samples was determined with a Shimadzu A500 organic carbon analyser (Shimadzu 2001) and N with the semi-micro Kjeldahl method (Bremner and Mulvaney 1982).…”

Section: Litter Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Secondary and primary forests in the tropics are undergoing rapid change in their function, composition and carbon cycling because of different types and degrees of human intervention (Brown and Lugo 1990;Malhi 2012;Aryal et al 2014). In southern Mexico, most forests were converted to extensive pasture and agricultural fields during the last decades of the twentieth century, due to large-scale incentives for animal production and agriculture (De Jong et al 2000;Turner et al 2004;Aryal et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Successional and seasonal variation in litterfall and associated nutrient transfer in semi-evergreen tropical forests of SE Mexico

Aryal

Jong

Ochoa-Gaona

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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Forest conversion to agriculture and grassland has been widespread in south-eastern Mexico. The productivity, functioning and carbon dynamics of secondary forests growing after abandonment of agricultural fields are expected to differ from those of primary forests. This study analysed whether forest age and seasonal variations affect the amount and temporal distribution of litterfall and associated nutrient transfer. Litterfall was measured across a chronosequence of semi-evergreen tropical forest in Calakmul, Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, and an index was created to evaluate the effect of land use intensity on litterfall collected in 16 stands from October 2012 to September 2014. Total litterfall ranged from 5.2 ± 0.6 to 7.1 ± 0.3 Mg ha -1 year -1 and peaked in secondary forest aged 10-20 years. Leaves contributed 84-91 % of total litterfall. The associated transfer of carbon ranged from 2.3 ± 0.3 to 3.2 ± 0.1 Mg ha -1 year -1 and of nitrogen from 62 ± 7 to 84 ± 4 kg ha -1 year -1 . Carbon and nutrient accumulation in the organic horizon (Oa) increased significantly with forest age. However, carbon in mineral soil (down to 0.30 m depth) did not increase over time. Peaks in monthly litterfall coincided with the dry season, with higher peaks in a year with lower rainfall in the dry season. Peaks were also higher in secondary forests than in primary forests, due to changes in species composition. Higher land use intensity reduced carbon and nutrient transfer through litter in regenerating secondary forests. Longer-term research is required to analyse the climate sensitivity of litter dynamics in these tropical forest frontiers.

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Section: Litter Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Litter Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Successional and seasonal variation in litterfall and associated nutrient transfer in semi-evergreen tropical forests of SE Mexico

Aryal

Jong

Ochoa-Gaona

et al. 2015

Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst

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“…Although many studies have discussed possible schemes, challenges and opportunities for SC in the context of reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon sequestration (Mertz 2009;Hett et al 2012;Antunes et al 2013;Aryal et al 2014), few studies have quantified the emissions from SC in the context of REDD+ (Mertz 2009). It is obvious that during clearance there will be emissions, not only as a result of loss of the woody vegetation but also because carbon concentrations in soil are lowered as a result of soil oxidation and because the litter supply to the soil is temporarily disrupted.…”

Section: Carbon Stocks In Shifting Cultivation Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon emissions from dryland shifting cultivation: a case study of Mexican tropical dry forest

Salinas-Melgoza¹,

Skutsch²,

Lovett³

et al. 2017

Silva Fenn.

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Highlights• Under REDD+, shifting cultivation should be considered degradation rather than deforestation.• Carbon stocks in old fallows (>20 years) are higher than those in old growth forests which have never been used for shifting cultivation.• Extending length of fallows increases rates of carbon emissions.• Shortened fallow cycles result in higher carbon stocks and lower emissions at the landscape level.• Cycle lengths could be optimized for carbon sequestration in a land sharing approach. AbstractThe article considers the relation of shifting cultivation to deforestation and degradation, and hence its impacts in terms of carbon emissions and sequestration potential. There is a need to understand these relationships better in the context of international policy on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). The article reviews the way in which shifting cultivation has been incorporated in global and national estimations of carbon emissions, and assembles the available information on shifting cultivation in Tropical Dry Forests (TDF) in Mexico, where it is widely practiced. It then takes the case of two villages, Tonaya and El Temazcal, which lie within the basin of the River Ayuquila in Jalisco, Mexico. Field data for the typical carbon stocks and fluxes associated with shifting cultivation are compared with stocks and fluxes associated with more intensive agricultural production in the same dry tropical forest area to highlight the carbon sequestration dynamics associated with the shortening and potential lengthening of the fallow cycles. The biomass density in the shifting cultivation system observed can reach levels similar to that of old growth forests, with old fallows (>20 years) having higher carbon stocks than old growth forests. Per Mg of maize produced, the biomass-related emissions from shifting cultivation in the traditional 12 year cycle are about three times those from permanent cultivation. We did not, however, take into account the additional emissions from inputs that result from the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the case of permanent agriculture. Shortening of the fallow cycle, which is occurring in the study area as a result of government subsidies, results in higher remaining stocks of carbon and lower emissions at the landscape level.

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“…The quality and dynamics of regional forest coverage, including afforestation, deforestation, and forest conservation, therefore are very important factors in mitigating climate change in the context of sustainable development [1][2][3]. Forest management is very important if carbon sequestration is to partially offset CO 2 emissions [4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Basin-Scale Estimation of Carbon Stocks of a Forest Ecosystem Characterized by Spatial Distribution and Contributive Features in the Liuxihe River Basin of Pearl River Delta

Zhang¹,

Xia²,

Lin³

2016

Forests

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Forest ecosystems make a greater contribution to carbon (C) stocks than any other terrestrial ecosystem. To understand the role of regional forest ecosystems in global climate change and carbon exchange, forest C stocks and their spatial distribution within the small (2300 km 2 ) Liuxihe River basin in China were analyzed to determine the different contributors to the C stocks. Forest C stocks were quantified by measuring the biomass of trees, understory vegetation, litter and roots, as well as soil organic C, using data from field samples and laboratory experiments. The results showed that forests stored 38.04 Tg·C in the entire basin, with secondary and planted forests accounting for 89.82% and 10.18%, respectively, of the stored C. Five types of forests, a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, a subtropical coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, a subtropical coniferous forest, a timber forest, and a non-wood forest, stored 257.55 ± 15.01, 218.92 ± 9.59, 195.24 ± 18.29, 177.42 ± 17.55, and 117.86 ± 6.04 Mg·C·ha −1 , respectively. In the forest ecosystem C stocks of the basin, soils on average contributed about 73.78%, not including root underground biomass. The results of this study, which provide baseline forest C stock data for ecosystem services and regional C flux research, are useful to support the basin-scale forest management and land use change.

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Carbon stocks and changes in tropical secondary forests of southern Mexico

Cited by 73 publications

References 69 publications

Successional and seasonal variation in litterfall and associated nutrient transfer in semi-evergreen tropical forests of SE Mexico

Successional and seasonal variation in litterfall and associated nutrient transfer in semi-evergreen tropical forests of SE Mexico

Carbon emissions from dryland shifting cultivation: a case study of Mexican tropical dry forest

A Basin-Scale Estimation of Carbon Stocks of a Forest Ecosystem Characterized by Spatial Distribution and Contributive Features in the Liuxihe River Basin of Pearl River Delta

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