Estimating Litter Production in Agroforests and Its Role in Soil Carbon Sequestration

Objective: This research sought to measure the contribution of litter and carbon storage provided by Agroforestry Systems (SAFs) with shaded coffee plantations. Theoretical Reference: Understanding carbon flows in biomass is essential for land use management, such as carbon storage and sequestration. Leaf litter, made up of leaves, branches and other organic residues, plays a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility due to its influence on nutrient cycling. SAFs have been shown to be effective in capturing carbon, acting as CO2 sinks and helping to mitigate climate change. Method: The experiments took place in the municipality of Taquaritinga do Norte, Pernambuco. Collectors made of wood were used, with dimensions of 1 m x 1 m and a height of 15 cm. The bottom was made of fiberglass mesh with a spacing of 1 mm x 1 mm, suspended 15 cm above the soil surface. The samples were collected over a period of 8 months, between October 2023 and May 2024. The treatment took place at the CITAR Laboratory, belonging to the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE). The fractions were packed in paper bags and taken to a forced-air oven at 70°C. The results were treated using descriptive statistics. Results and Discussion: The production of leaf litter showed temporal variations, with a higher contribution of this material in the Secondary Native Forest (MNS) (858.06 kg/ha/month) compared to the SAF (807.11 kg/ha/month). With regard to the percentage of the fractions that make up the litter, the leaf fraction was predominant in both systems, making up around 79% in the SAF and 68% in the MNS of the litter contributed to the soil. The results are in line with the literature on the subject, showing the contribution of plant species to the deposition of organic matter. In the SAF, the stock of living biomass above ground was 330 t/ha, corresponding to 155.1 t/ha of carbon, higher than the values recorded in the MNS (67 t/ha of biomass and 31 t/ha of carbon). Research Implications: The theoretical and applied implications of this research are analyzed comprehensively, highlighting how the findings can contribute to the advancement of knowledge and the implementation of practices in the context of carbon sequestration and the recovery of degraded areas. Originality/Value: The research is valuable because of its unprecedented application in the field. Its relevance is highlighted by the fact that it is aligned with different scientific studies that have already been consolidated on the academic scene.