Cuantificación del Contenido de Carbono en una Plantación de Pino Insigne (Pinus radiata) y en Estrato de Páramo de Ozogoche Bajo, Parque Nacional Sangay, Ecuador

Abstract

The organic carbon content in aerial and underground biomass, low stratum, litter, rootlets and soil in both Pinus radiata plantation and moor in the south western area of Sangay National Park, in Ecuador, has been determined. Six permanent sample plots were established. In the forest plantation, aerial biomass carbon content average value was 14.69 MgC/ha, 0,68 MgC/ha for low stratum, 2.97 MgC/ha for litter, 0.15 MgC/ha for rootlets and 268.83 MgC/ha for soil. In the moor, low stratum carbon content average value was 6.55 MgC/ha, 56.09 MgC/ha for litter, 0.17 MgC/ha for rootlets and 215.0 MgC/ha for soil. Total average carbon was 287.31 MgC/ha in plantation and 277.81 MgC/ha in moor, an increase of 30% in Pinus radiata plantation relative to moor is observed but with a lower regeneration rate of herbaceous and shrub species. Results indicate that values of the carbon content in the area considered in the study are similar to values reported in the literature for other moors of neighboring provinces.