Management of tropical soils as sinks or sources of atmospheric carbon |
| |
Authors: | Ariel E Lugo Sandra Brown |
| |
Institution: | (1) Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, Call Box 25000, 00928-2500 Rio Piedras, P.R., USA;(2) Department of Forestry, University of Illinois, W-503 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin, 61801 Urbana, IL, USA |
| |
Abstract: | The prevailing paradigm for anticipating changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) with changes in land use postulates reductions
in SOC in managed systems (agriculture and tree plantations) relative to mature tropical forests. Variations of this notion
are used in carbon models to predict the role of tropical soils in the global carbon cycle. Invariably these models show tropical
soils as sources of atmospheric carbon. We present data from a variety of studies that show that SOC in managed systems can
be lower, the same as, or greater than mature tropical forests and that SOC can increase rapidly after the abandonment of
agricultural fields. History of land use affects the comparison of SOC in managed and natural ecosystems. Our review of the
literature also highlights the need for greater precautions when comparing SOC in mature tropical forests with that of managed
ecosystems. Information on previous land use, bulk density, and consistency in sampling depth are some of the most common
omissions in published studies. From comparable SOC data from a variety of tropical land uses we estimate that tropical soils
can accumulate between 168 and 553 Tg C/yr. The greatest potential for carbon sequestration in tropical soils is in the forest
fallows which cover some 250 million hectares. Increased attention to SOC by land managers can result in greater rates of
carbon sequestration than predicted by current SOC models. |
| |
Keywords: | carbon sinks changes in soils soil fertility soil management soil organic carbon soil organic matter tropical soil succession |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|