Soil carbon stock potential in pastoral and silvopastoral systems in the Peruvian amazon

Abstract At the moment, there isn't a lot of information that shows how important silvopastoral systems are to the physical and biological properties of Amazonian soils. Thus, this study aimed to compare the soil carbon storage potential, physical and chemical soil properties of silvopastoral systems (SPS), and conventional pastoral systems (CPS) in the San Martin region of Peru. Using the Walkey and Black C determination method, we analyzed organic matter at two different depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm). In addition, bulk density, soil moisture total porosity and mechanical resistance were measured in both systems. In both systems, the highest (P < 0.05) carbon stocks were reported at 0–15 cm of depth with values of 31.4 Mg ha− 1 and 34.4 Mg ha− 1, respectively. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences, carbon stocks were higher in SPS. At 15–30 cm depth, the total carbon stock was higher for SPS, with 29.12 Mg ha− 1, than for CPS, which had 26.4 Mg ha− 1. No significant differences in soil moisture were found between systems, although soil moisture was slightly greater in SPS than CPS (28% and 25%, respectively). The CPS had 59% of the total porosity, which was higher than the SPS. Mechanical resistance was lower in SPS (2.15 kg/cm2) than in CPS (2.33 kg/cm2) at 10 cm of depth. These results indicated that the SPS has the potential to store more carbon and improve physical and chemical traits in the soil than the CPS.