Estimation of aerial biomass and carbon capture of Atriplex nummularia Lindl

Atriplex nummularia is forage shrub species, adapted to arid conditions. In Los Llanos de La Rioja, this species has been highlighted as a source of fodder for small ruminants, but it is also of interest to quantify its carbon sequestration potential, in a context where it is necessary to reconcile the production and conservation of ecosystem services. The objective of this study was to determine the aboveground biomass and estimate carbon sequestration in individuals of A. nummularia. The experiment was carried out in the experimental field of INTA E.E.A. La Rioja, in a 13-year-old plantation, where n=30 plants were randomly selected and cut. To estimate the biomass, cuts were made at a height of 50 cm from the ground level of the growth of one year (biomass removal in October 2006 and regrowth measurement in October 2007). The plants had a crown diameter between 0.64 and 2.20 m, and a mean height ± standard deviation (SD) of 1.37 ± 0.19 m. The harvested material was dried in an oven at 65 ºC until reaching constant weight. The mean value ± SD of aerial biomass was 1.50 ± 0.640 kg DM/plant, the estimated carbon content was 0.750 ± 0.320 kg/plant and 2.750 ± 1.180 kg of CO₂ stored per plant. It is concluded that this information is important to 1) design standing forage reserves using this species to increase the forage available for goats and, 2) contribute to carbon sequestration.

 

Keywords: forage shrub, arid lands, environmental services.