Relationships of biomass, nutrient pools and anthropogenic activities in Amazonian forests
- Oregon State Univ., Corvallis (United States) Forest Service, Missoula, MT (United States)
There are two general patterns associated with deforestation in Amazonia: shifting cultivation where forests are felled and burned every 4-10 years; and pasture conversion where burning occurs every 1-3 years. The former results in a more rapid rate of nutrient loss due to fire frequency and the greater susceptibility of aboveground nutrient pools to volatilization. Along the gradient from primary forest to burned degraded pasture or third-growth forest, aboveground biomass decreased from 434 Mg ha[sup [minus]1] to <8 Mg ha[sup [minus]1]. However, tremendous variability exists in the biomass, nutrient pools, and fire effects in Terra Firme forests, second-growth forests (Capoiera) and pastures. For example, N losses from primary forests ranged from 500 to 1380 kg ha[sup [minus]1], losses from Capoiera ranged from 300 to 400 kg ha[sup [minus]1] and losses from pastures were 200 to >500 kg ha[sup [minus]1]. Clearly these land use practices result in a significant transfer of C to the atmosphere, are not sustainable for human uses and may exacerbate difficulties in forest restoration.
- OSTI ID:
- 6201564
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-930798--
- Journal Information:
- Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States), Journal Name: Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States) Vol. 74:2; ISSN BECLAG; ISSN 0012-9623
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOMASS
BRAZIL
CARBON
CARBON SINKS
CULTIVATION
DEFORESTATION
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FIRES
FORESTS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
LAND USE
LATIN AMERICA
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
PASTURES
POPULATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REVEGETATION
SINKS
SOUTH AMERICA
TROPICAL REGIONS