Resumo

RONCAL-GARCIA, Sandra et al. Agroforestry systems and carbon stocks in indigenous communities from Chiapas, Mexico. INCI [online]. 2008, vol.33, n.3, pp.200-206. ISSN 0378-1844.

One of the consequences of slash-and-burn agriculture is the conversion of forests into open areas, contributing carbon (C) emissions and consequently increasing the greenhouse effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the C stocks in four agroforestry systems, exploring its relationship with system age and structural and functional complexity. Carbon inventories were undertaken, in the context of the Scolel’te Project, in four indigenous communities within the Chilón municipality, Chiapas, Mexico, in 25 circular plots. Destructive sampling methods were used for all pools, except for tree/shrub and thick roots, for which allometric formulae were used. The Holdridge complexity index was applied to each system. Plots with higher complexity contained a higher carbon concentration. Taungya systems, traditional milpa, enriched fallow and natural fallow presented 109.4, 127.9, 150.1 and 177.6Mg C·ha^-1, respectively. Soil organic matter was the largest C pool in all systems, with 70% of the total C stock; whereas living biomass and dead organic matter contributed one third of total C. Total C increased with system age in taungya and natural fallow, while in milpa a negative relationship between dead matter and age was found. Taungya and enriched fallow may be regarded as an alternative for slash and burn agriculture, since in addition to C sequestration, farmers do not burn vegetation, thus avoiding emissions. These agroforestry systems hold significant pools of C and also offer key local goods for local people

Palavras-chave : Acahual; Barbecho; Carbono; Índice de Complejidad de Holdridge; Milpa; Taungya.