Carbon stocks in a preserved dry tropical forest

Resumo

Studies that aim to quantify carbon stocking by dry forests are essential in view of their being important as carbon sinks. With that in mind, the aim of this research was to quantify the carbon stocks in the woody, herbaceous, litter and root components of a patch of dry tropical forest in Ceará, Brazil. Initially the vegetation was inventoried by means of a floristic and phytosociological survey of the woody component in a 1 ha area which had been under conservation. The biomass was then estimated employing allometric equations, and the stored carbon was quantified. Stocks of carbon in the litter and the herbaceous plants were determined by monitoring their biomass over 24 months, with subsequent conversion into carbon. Carbon stocks in the roots were estimated as the product of their biomass and carbon concentrations. It was found that carbon levels varied according to the compartment being studied, with the tree component having the greatest stock of carbon, followed by the roots, litter and herbaceous plants. Thick roots play the role of main carbon sink in relation to those of smaller diameter. As the litter and herbaceous plants represent a carbon reservoir of 11.66% of the total stored.