CARBON CONTENT IN THE ABOVEGROUND BIOMASS IN THE MEZQUITAL WITH FARMING HISTORY, IN MEXICO

Abstract

Productive activities lead to changes in land use in accordance with the needs of society and of government programs, either for the exploitation of natural resources or farming. The aim of the present study was to estimate the carbon content in an original mezquital (where mesquite, Prosopis laevigata, grows) and two areas with historical farm use and abandonment times of 15 and 30 years, turned into mezquitals. The study areas are located in the municipality of Linares, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. For the estimation of carbon content a systematic sampling design was used, establishing in each area four sampling sites of 1600m(2) divided into four quadrants. The 30 years mezquital, located in a valley, had the largest aboveground biomass carbon content, 18.83Mg.ha(-1), followed by the primary mezquital with 14.76Mg.ha(-1) and the 15 years mezquital with 5.24Mg.ha(-1). Recovering the initial state of primary mezquital in a valley-type geoform is possible, as can be seen in the 30 years mezquital, which surpassed the carbon content in reserve at the primary mezquital. The historical use of abandoned farming areas in valley type geoforms with natural regeneration should be considered as important ecosystems for carbon storage, and therefore the establishment of forest plantations in this type of geoform should be promoted.