CONCENTRATION OF CARBON IN Pinus cembroides Zucc: MITIGATION POTENTIAL SOURCE OF GLOBAL WARMING

Abstract

RESUMENL os bosques de Pinus cembroides Zucc, usualmente, han sido segregados del aprovechamiento forestal comercial dadas sus desventajas maderables. Sin embargo, esta especie desempeña un papel importante en la biodiversidad de México. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la concentración de carbono (C) en los principales compartimentos de P. cembroides: raíz, corteza, fuste, ramas, yemas y hojas. La concentración de C total expresado como porcentaje de la biomasa fue determinado con el Solids TOC Analyzer. Los resultados se analizaron en un diseño completamente al azar y mediante comparación de medias de Tukey. El análisis indicó que la concentración de C varía entre los componentes (P < 0.05); la yema tuvo el valor más alto (57.1 %), mientras que el fuste y las ramas registraron los valores más bajos (47.7 y 47.8 %, respectivamente). Los resultados contribuyen a mejorar las estimaciones de C y proveen información importante para definir si los bosques de P. cembroides pueden considerarse como una posible fuente con potencial de mitigación ante el cambio climático y así utilizarlos en un programa de secuestro de C. ABSTRACT P inus cembroidesZucc forests has usually been segregated from commercial logging given their woody disadvantages. However, this species plays an important role in the biodiversity of Mexico. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration of carbon (C) in the main compartments of P. cembroides: root, bark, stem, branches, buds and leaves. The total C concentration expressed as percentage of biomass was determined with the Solids TOC Analyzer equipment. The results were analyzed in a completely randomized design and Tukey's comparison of means. The analysis of variance evidenced that C concentration varied among components (P < 0.05); the bud had the highest value (57.1 %), while stem and branches recorded the lowest values (47.7 and 47.8 %, respectively). Our results contribute to improving C estimates for this species and provide important information to determine whether P. cembroides forests can be considered as a possible source with mitigation potential against climate change and thus use it in a C sequestration program.

Seed Characteristics and Nutritional Composition of Pine Nut from Five Populations of P. cembroides from the States of Hidalgo and Chihuahua, Mexico

“…These characteristics make P. cembroides trees suitable for reforestation of semiarid or eroded arid, habitats which have been extensively impoverished historically by intensive agriculture and cattle feed activities [5]. Furthermore, the populations of P. cembroides are being threatened by global warming, fire, pests, diseases, and anthropogenic activities, altogether contributing to massive deterioration of the inhabiting ecosystems [6,7]. In the states of Hidalgo and Chihuahua, one of the most important species in the production of pine nut is P. cembroides [6].…”

Survival, growth and carbon content in a forest plantation established after a clear-cutting in Durango, Mexico

“…The Mexican forests have been considered as diverse in terms of tree species (Medrano et al, 2017) and have great potential as a carbon sink, and therefore are considered essential to assess carbon content in programs designed to mitigate global warming Domínguez-Calleros et al, 2017). Frequently 50% carbon concentration of total biomass has been assumed, however, this statement leads to inaccurate carbon estimates, due to variation of the carbon concentration between arboreal components and tree species (Pompa-García & Yerena-Yamalliel, 2014;Wang et al, 2015;Hernández-Vera et al, 2017). Forest plantations of one or two species stand out as the most efficient way to increase carbon sequestration capacity of forest regions, because forest owners plant normally fast-growing tree species (Reyes, León & Herrero, 2019).…”

Peer Review #1 of "Survival, growth and carbon content in a forest plantation established after a clear-cutting in Durango, Mexico (v0.1)"

“…The Mexican forests have been considered as diverse in terms of tree species (Medrano et al, 2017) and have great potential as a carbon sink, and therefore are considered essential to assess carbon content in programs designed to mitigate global warming (Pompa- Domínguez-Calleros et al, 2017). Frequently 50% carbon concentration of total biomass has been assumed, however, this statement leads to inaccurate carbon estimates, due to variation of the carbon concentration between arboreal components and tree species (Pompa-García & Yerena-Yamalliel, 2014;Wang et al, 2015;Hernández-Vera et al, 2017). Forest plantations of one or two species stand out as the most efficient way to increase carbon sequestration capacity of forest regions, because forest owners plant normally fast-growing tree species (Reyes, León & Herrero, 2019).…”