CARBON CONCENTRATION IN PINE-OAK FOREST SPECIES OF THE SIERRA MADRE ORIENTAL

Abstract

The carbon concentration was analyzed per unit of dry weight based biomass in the components of the above-ground biomass of the representative species of the pine-oak forest ecosystem of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The components of the above-ground biomass considered were stem, branches, bark and leaves of the species Pinus pseudostrobus, Juniperus flaccida, Quercus laceyi, Quercus rysophylla, Quercus canbyi and Arbutus xalapensis. The carbon concentration was determined using a Solids TOC Analyzer, which analyzes the carbon concentrations in solid samples by complete combustion. The species with the highest carbon concentration was Juniperus flaccida (51.18%), while Q. rysophylla had the lowest (47.98%); the component with the highest carbon concentration was the leaves of Arbutus xalapensis (55.05%), while the bark of Quercus laceyi had the lowest (43.65%). Highly significant differences were observed for the average carbon concentration by group of species; the group conifers showed an average of 50.76%, while that of the broadleaf species was 48.85%. There were highly significant differences between the various components by species group; the highest concentration was found in the bark of conifers (51.91%), compared to the bark of the broadleaf species, which had the lowest (45.75%).