Soil carbon stocks after eucalyptus planting to replace sugarcane cultivation

Abstract

The conversion of areas of agricultural crops to eucalyptus plantations is considered effective for the global supply of wood, protecting natural forests and for increasing the fixation and global storage of carbon (C) in the soil, contributing to the mitigation of climate change. In this sense, the impact of the conversion of sugarcane to eucalyptus in the carbon stock in an argisol (acrisols) and a oxisol (ferralsols) from the Zona da Mata of Pernambuco, Brazil, was evaluated. One area of forest, two areas of eucalyptus, with seven years of planting and two areas of sugarcane, with 15 and 17 years of planting, were selected. The granulometric analysis of the soil was performed and determination of the carbon stock was performed through the values of density (Ds) and soil total organic carbon (TOC). The sand content was higher than clay, in the three uses and in the two soil classes. Lower Ds was observed in eucalyptus soil in both soil classes. In the acrisols, the highest concentrations of TOC and carbon stocks were in the eucalyptus soil when compared to sugarcane. However, in the ferralsols, the concentrations of TOC and carbon stock were higher in sugarcane. It is concluded that the planting of eucalyptus has the potential to store carbon, but this will depend on the soil conditions of the area in which the eucalyptus is inserted.