EVALUACIÓN DEL POTENCIAL DE CAPTURA DE DIÓXIDO DE CARBONO (CO2) EN PASTIZALES DE CHILLIGUA (Festuca dolichophylla J.Presl) EN ECOSISTEMAS ALTOANDINOS

High Andean ecosystems play a fundamental role in the provision of ecosystem services, however, information on their capacity to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the carbon dioxide sequestration potential of Chilligua (Festuca dolichophylla J.Presl) grasslands at the Experimental Center (EC) Illpa. Three components (leaves, stems and roots) of Chilligua were evaluated. The method of counting plants in square plots was used to estimate the density, and the biomass was determined in the stove, and the carbon content by the caloric power method. The results showed that the density of Chilligua was 10 650 mats ha-1 in CE Illpa. Dry biomass in CE Illpa was 5.73 tnMS ha-1, with significant differences in dry biomass production and the stem was the component that contributed most to biomass. Carbon content was 2.52 tnC ha-1 in leaf, stem and root, with the stem storing more carbon. Finally, CO2 capture was 9.24 tnCO2 ha-1 in leaf, stem and root, the stem stores more CO2 in its structure. In total, it is estimated that 275.64 tnCO2 are captured in the 105.60 ha of Chilligua, highlighting the importance of these ecosystems in climate change mitigation.