Deforestation and Carbon Stock Loss in Brazil’s Amazonian Settlements

We estimate deforestation and the carbon stock in 2740 (82 %) of the 3325 settlements in Brazil’s Legal Amazonia region. Estimates are made both using available satellite data and a carbon map for the “pre-modern” period (prior to 1970). We used data from Brazil’s Project for Monitoring Deforestation in Amazonia updated through 2013 and from the Brazilian Biomes Deforestation Monitoring Project (PMDBBS) updated through 2010. To obtain the pre-modern and recent carbon stocks we performed an intersection between a carbon map and a map derived from settlement boundaries and deforestation data. Although the settlements analyzed occupied only 8 % of Legal Amazonia, our results indicate that these settlements contributed 17 % (160,410 km2) of total clearing (forest + non-forest) in Legal Amazonia (967,003 km2). This represents a clear-cutting of 41 % of the original vegetation in the settlements. Out of this total, 72 % (115,634 km2) was in the “Federal Settlement Project” (PA) category. Deforestation in settlements represents 20 % (2.6 Pg C) of the total carbon loss in Legal Amazonia (13.1 Pg C). The carbon stock in remaining vegetation represents 3.8 Pg C, or 6 % of the total remaining carbon stock in Legal Amazonia (58.6 Pg C) in the periods analyzed. The carbon reductions in settlements are caused both by the settlers and by external actors. Our findings suggest that agrarian reform policies contributed directly to carbon loss. Thus, the implementation of new settlements should consider potential carbon stock losses, especially if settlements are created in areas with high carbon stocks. © 2016, The Author(s)

Densidade de plantio de cultivares de cenoura para processamento submetidas à adubações química e orgânica Planting density of carrot cultivars for industrialization under organic and chemical fertilization

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a produtividade das cultivares de cenoura Alvorada e Carandaí em diferentes densidades de plantio utilizando-se adubações química e orgânica, visando a produção de matéria-prima para o processamento de cenouretes e catetinhos. Foram utilizadas as densidades: 16; 20; 24; 28 e 32 plantas por metro linear, sendo as parcelas compostas por 10 linhas transversais ao sentido do canteiro, com 1 m de comprimento entre si. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados em arranjo fatorial 2x2x5 (duas cultivares, dois tipos de adubação e cinco densidades de plantio) com quatro repetições. Foram avaliados: peso total de raízes, estimativa de produtividade, comprimento de raízes, raízes com diâmetro menor que 3,0 cm (%), raízes com ombro verde (%), sobras para o processamento (%), descarte (%) e severidade da queima das folhas. A colheita foi feita aos 104 dias após o plantio. O peso total de raízes e raízes com diâmetro inferior a 3,0 cm não foram influenciados pelo tipo de adubação. O aumento da densidade reduziu a produção de raízes com diâmetro superior a 3,0 cm e o comprimento médio das raízes. Quando utilizou-se adubação química ocorreu maior presença de raízes com ombro verde e a cultivar Alvorada apresentou as maiores porcentagens de raízes com esta característica.<br>In this research the yield of Alvorada and Carandaí carrot cultivars was verified, under different planting densities, submitted to organic and chemical fertilization, aiming to obtain roots with adequate characteristics for cenourete production (similar to baby carrot) and catetinho (mini ball form). Five planting densities were used: 16; 20; 24; 28 and 32 plants m-1) with four replications, in a total of 80 plots of 10 lines spaced 0,25 m from each other. The total root weight, average root length, roots with smaller diameter than 3,0 cm (%), roots with green superior part (%),leftovers for processing (%),discard (%) and the severity of leaf blight were evaluated. Plants were harvested 104 days after sowing. Total root weight and percentage of root diameter smaller than 3,0 cm were not influenced by the type of fertilization. Increasing the planting density resulted in a reduction of the root weight with a diameter over 3,0 cm as well as in the root length, independently of the cultivar. Using chemical fertilization resulted in more roots with green shoulder independently of the employed cultivar; but Alvorada presented higher percentages of green shoulder