Estimación de carbono orgánico secuestrado en diferentes estratos altitudinales en el ecosistema herbazal del área protegida “Ichubamba Yasepan”

Abstract

Sources of information about the quantities of organic carbon sequestered in paramo ecosystems in Ecuador are scarce and limited. the organic carbon contents also deserved to be evaluated for ecosystem conservation and to generate relevant information that allows studying the influence of various factors. The research aimed to protect the area “ Cooperativa Ichubamba Yasepan”, where plots designed with a stratified randomized experimental design according to the studies of the CIMA Project. For the estimation of organic carbon in both attitudinal strata of 3440 and 3480 m a.s.1., plots of 10 m2 are placed, two circular plots of 5 m and 2.5 m radius are established within the plot, four sampling subunits of 15 cm2 are shown for the biomass and necromass samples, and with sample subunits of 1 m2 for the soil in the corners of the plot, with depths of 30, 60 and 90 cm. The LOI ignition method is used for carbon analysis. The samples were collected. The statistical analysis used Infostat with the generalized linear mixed model interface. The carbon result in the measured variables was 26.39 Ton C/ha necromass, 31.46 Ton C/ha biomass, 94.08 Ton C/ha soil at 30 cm, 126.36 Ton C/ ha at 60 cm, and 331.3 Ton C/ ha at 90 cm at 3440 m.a.s.l at 3840 m.a.s.1., they are 23.06 Ton C/ha, 31.52 Tons C/ha., 48.2 Tn C/ha 59.56 Ton C/ha, and 73.12 Ton C/ha in the same order. It was determin that carbon is stored more in the stratum at 3440. It was concluded that the vegetation cover promotes a high carbon sequestration rate.