ESTIMATION OF BIOMASS AND CARBON IN Elaeis guineensis Jacq. ON TWO CONTRASTING SOILS OF THE CHIAPAS COASTAL PLAIN

Abstract

Background. Oil palm has the potential to capture and store CO2, however, its growth is influenced by the environment. Objective. Estimate the biomass and the amount of carbon in the stem, leaves and roots of Elaeis guineensis Jacq. on two contrasting soils of the Chiapas Coast. Methodology. Biomass was sampled for organ estimation using the allometric model Y = bXk in its linear form. Carbon content was obtained in stem, leaves and roots. Results. The total biomass increased 42% in Huehuetan with cambisol soil compared to the Acapetahua site with fluvisol soil. The total biomass and stem and leaf ratio presents (R2) of 95 and 94%. The percentage of carbon was higher in stem, followed by leaf and root system. In total, the amount was 524.27 in Huehuetan and 315.75 kg of CO2.plant-1 in Acapetahua. The CO2 equivalence in biomass by plants in Huehuetan was 266.72 and 142.14 Mg of CO2 equivalent.ha-1 for Acapetahua. Implications. The study was limited to two regions with particular environmental characteristics, therefore, the climate and soil differences induce variation in biomass and carbon estimates. Conclusions. The variations between biomass and carbon estimates are influenced by soil type. A significant relationship was found between plant height and the biometric variables of the stem, leaf and root and the total biomass. The amount of carbon stored varied depending on the age, height of the palms and the density of the plantation. The stem was the organ of the plant with the highest carbon content.