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| Author(s): |
Cindy Silva Moreira
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | Piracicaba. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB) |
| Defense date: | 2010-11-09 |
| Examining board members: |
Carlos Clemente Cerri;
Martial Michel Yoric Bernoux;
Jean Paul Laclau;
Fabio Poggiani;
Hervé Émilien René Théry
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| Advisor: | Carlos Clemente Cerri |
| Abstract | |
Considering the great importance of carbon sequestration (C) in forest soils, there are few CDM projects that include this compartment as an agent of global warming mitigation. This occurs because the quantification of soil C stocks represents a bigger challenge when compared to other components of forest ecosystems. Considering the economic difficulties and environmental issues involved in adopting this type of project and the importance of forests in mitigating climate change, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of methods for obtaining soil C stocks in two forestry areas and their respective baselines (land use prior to planting, i.e. pastures and native vegetation) as a basis for reducing the cost-benefit ratio of CDM projects. To achieve the main objective, this research was composed of the following steps: (i) estimating the spatial variability of soil C in an area reforested with native species, established in Cotriguaçú, MT (Area I) and a Eucalyptus chronosequence, located in Avaré, SP (Area II), (ii) determining the optimal amount of soil samples and the plot size from the soil C spatial dependence range in the reforestation areas, (iii) estimating soil C content and bulk density (BD) by Near and Mid Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS and MIRS, respectively) to reduce analytical costs without affecting the quality of the results, and (iv) calculating soil C stocks in both areas and estimating the carbon balance of a CDM Project conducted in Area II, using EX-ACT (\"Ex-Ante Carbon Balance Tool\"). The results confirmed the existence of significant soil C spatial variability in both areas and a strong spatial dependence at all plots. The analysis of the optimal number of soil samples indicated that the sampling procedure with five points per plot is as accurate as intensive sampling. The optimum size of plots ranged from 361-841 m2 at Area I plantations and from 900-3721 m2 at Area II. The performance of MIRS and NIRS to estimate the soil carbon content was very satisfactory, especially when the models were calibrated with amounts between 5-10% of the total data set. The estimations of BD were slightly less precise than those of soil C content. The soil C stocks obtained at Area I were higher than Area II. Considering only the soil compartment, it is clear that the potential for C credit generation in a reforestation with native species on a clayey soil is higher than in a reforestation with eucalyptus on a sandy soil. The C balance of the CDM project conducted in Area I is expected to sequester almost three million tones of CO2 eq in 40 years. We hope this study contributes to the increased inclusion of soil in CDM projects, by confirming the feasibility of reducing the costs associated with both sampling and analytical procedures (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 06/06073-6 - CDM forestry projects: potential for carbon sequestration in the soil-litter system in area of reforestation with Eucalyptus |
| Grantee: | Cindy Silva Moreira |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |