CARBON STOCK IN SILVOPASTORAL SYSTEM WITH MACAÚBA

Silvopastoral systems (SSPs) are conducted with the aim of increasing efficiency in land use, integrating trees, forage and livestock. The macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), a palm tree native to Brazil, is a good alternative to be included in SSPs, due to its oleaginous fruits. Macaúba oil has high potential to be used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and biofuel industries. The objective of this study was to estimate the total organic carbon (TOC) stock in the arable soil layer in SSPs with macaúba, under different planting densities and intercropped with pasture,  Urochloa decumbens. The trial was carried out at the Teaching, Research and Extension Unit of Araponga – MG of UFV. The present study consisted of 11 treatments, considering two factors; macaúba planting densities: T₁ : 4.5m x 4.5m; T₂ : 5.0m x 4.0m; T₃ : 6.0m x 4.0m; T₄ : 7.0m x 4.0m; T₅ : 8.0m x 4.0m + reference area T₆ : pasture and position, row and inter-row. Samples were collected in the 0-40 cm soil layer, stratified from 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm. To calculate the TOC stock, the equivalent soil mass was corrected, a methodology used to adjust the differences in soil mass between the layers in the managed areas and the reference area. The data were submitted to ANOVA and the means were compared using the Tukey and Dunnet tests. The TOC did not differ (P>0.01) for the position factor. At depth 0-40 cm, TOC did not differ between treatments T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄