The soil C pool in different agroecosystems derived from the dry tropical forest of Guanacaste, Costa Rica

BACKGROUND:

Seasonally dry tropical forests, constituting 42% of all tropical forests, are critically endangered, with less than 0.1% protected in Pacific Mesoamerica. The preservation of these forests is severely threatened by the invasive, highly flammable grass Hyparrhenia rufa, which has aggressively colonized the area since the 1940s. The paper focuses on examining soil carbon pools across various ecosystems derived from these forests in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive research on their soil carbon dynamics.

GOALS AND METHODS:

The paper aims to provide baseline information on soil carbon (C) pools in different ecosystems derived from dry tropical forests to understand the potential for carbon credit schemes and inform better land management decisions. The study assesses the vertical distribution of soil carbon up to 50 cm depth. The research collects soil samples from five different ecosystems and analyzes them using multivariate ordination techniques to identify trends and variations in soil carbon content.

CONCLUSIONS AND TAKEAWAYS:

The study concludes that soil carbon pools vary significantly across different land uses derived from dry tropical forests in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with the sugarcane plantation showing notably higher soil carbon concentrations due to effective residue management practices. It highlights the necessity of adopting sustainable land management practices that enhance soil carbon storage, which can contribute to conservation efforts and carbon sequestration objectives.