Evaluación de las reservas de carbono y nitrógeno a lo largo de un gradiente altitudinal en un área forestal al sur de los Andes ecuatorianos

Abstract

The current investigation is about the quantification of carbon and nitrogen reserves (C and N) in pine trees (Pinus patula) plantations, which helped for a better understanding of forest environments. It took place in the south of the Ecuadorian Andes (2200-2500 msnm). For the calculation of the reserves and equation defined by Vesterdal was used. This gave an average result of the C in the soil of 141.93 Mg ha-1, the average nitrogen was 5.96 Mg ha-1, while statistically significant levels couldn’t be found in the correlation with height in the C reserves. On the other hand the results where significant (P<0.005) in the mineral layer, since the values point that they are correlated with height. The results given in the study area show that the mineral layer contains higher reserve quantity compared to the organic. While in the soil the plantations show higher and more significant levels of correlation in the mineral layer. In total the N reserves indicate that the capture of carbon and nitrogen that the soil makes could help to the conservation of nature through the management of the pine trees forests.