CARBON QUANTIFICATION OF THE AERIAL BIOMASS OF COFFEE (<I>Coffea arabica</I> L.) IN THE SHADE, IN THE PALO SOMBRERO REGION, JINOTEGA, NICARAGUA

Abstract

The Agro forestry systems are potential carbon dioxide sink,
contributing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose
of the present study is to quantify organic carbon stored in a
coffee system. This research was carried at Santa Maura farm,
Jinotega. The farm has an altitude of 1000 - 1250 above the
sea level; temperature average is between 19 to 23°C. The
soil is classified as mollisols. Three types of coffee systems
were identified. They differ on varieties, age and plan density.
A systematic sampling was performed using sample intensity
of 2%. The sampling unit was a circular plot of 250 m². In
each sampling plot a plan inventory was performed in order
to identified tree species and coffee plants. The variables
measured were: total height, stem height, diameter at 1.5 m
above the ground, and dry and fresh weight of the different
components. Dry weight and carbon content were recorded
from the above ground parts of coffees and shade species. The
biggest average of storage C was found at the type two, with
19.86 metric ton of carbon by hectare (tMC ha^-1), followed
by type three which had 11.12 tMC ha^-1;, and finally type one
with 5.5 tMC ha^-1. The difference of C content among types
is directly linked to the density, shadow tree species, age and
management of the plantation.

Keywords: Carbon storage; environmental service

DOI: 10.5377/calera.v9i12.4