Carbon reserves in coffee agroforestry in the Peruvian Amazon

Area of Science:

• Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Tropical Ecology

Background:

• Secondary forests and shade tree coffee systems are recognized for their potential in carbon sequestration.
• Effective climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial for tropical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare carbon stocks in secondary forests and various coffee plantation management systems.
• To evaluate the role of shade trees, specifically Inga sp., in enhancing carbon sequestration within coffee agroforestry systems.

Main Methods:

• Allometric equations were used to estimate carbon stock in secondary forest trees.
• Soil, herbaceous biomass, and leaf litter carbon stocks were determined through direct sampling and laboratory analysis.

Main Results:

• Secondary forests exhibited the highest biomass carbon stock (132.2 t/ha), followed by coffee with Inga sp. shade trees (118.2 t/ha).
• Coffee without shade trees had the lowest carbon stock (31.1 t/ha), while polyculture systems stored 76.5 t/ha.
• Coffee plants sequestered an average of 2.65 t/ha, with the Inga sp. system showing the highest storage.

Conclusions:

• Inga sp. presents a viable shade system model for coffee farms, enhancing carbon sequestration.
• Further research on broader-scale, time-averaged measurements and carbon dioxide emissions is recommended for a comprehensive understanding of climate impacts.