ALTERAÇÕES NO ESTOQUE DE CARBONO E NAS PROPRIEDADES DO SOLO EM ÁREA COM PLANTIOS FLORESTAIS NA AMAZÔNIA CENTRAL

Abstract

Environmental degradation resulting from the conversion of forests into pastures, agriculture, and mining, among other activities, is one of the most concerning threats to sustainability in the Amazon. This process often leads to soil deterioration and significant emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ and carbon monoxide. This study evaluated the potential of planting forest species as a viable strategy to restore degraded pasture areas caused by extensive livestock farming at Fazenda Santa Cláudia, in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo (AM). The main objective was to evaluate pure and mixed plantations of Hymenaea courbaril L. var. courbaril, Dipteryx odorata, and Carapa guianensis, with spacing of 3.0 x 3.0 m for pure stands and 2.5 x 2.0 m for mixed plantations, intercropped with Ochroma pyramidale, and to compare the performance of each stand with a mature forest and a secondary forest of the same age. Carbon stock along the soil profile, nutrient availability, and the chemical and physical properties of the soil, such as density, were assessed. Statistical analyses confirmed that forest arrangements, especially mixed plantations, induced consistent improvements in the chemical and physical properties of the soil and higher carbon stocks in degraded areas compared to secondary forests. The results emphasize the role of native species in enhancing environmental resilience and confirm that reforestation represents a sustainable solution to reverse degraded areas and mitigate climate change in the Amazon.