Organic Carbon Storage in Waterlogging Soils in Ávila, Spain: A Traditional Agrosilvopastoral Region

Abstract

Soils play a crucial role in the protection, management, and ecological understanding of the La Moraña region, located in Ávila province, Central Spain, which has a moderate population, traditional agriculture, livestock farming, and low industrial activity, resulting in relatively low environmental degradation. The region’s soils often experience prolonged water stagnation, influencing its agronomy, ecology, and economy. This study aimed to estimate and understand the soil’s role in the C sequestration of an agrosilvopastoral system under conditions of temporary water stagnation and different land uses. The results showed that ryegrass-magaza and Pinus pinaster show more content in soil carbon sequestration storage (98.7 and 92.4 Mg per hectare) compared to the adjacent degraded rangeland (75.8 and 63.9 Mg ha−1). Arenosols exhibited a higher total amount of SOC stocks. The soil profile with ryegrass sequestered more nitrogen (9.7 Mg ha−1) than other land uses; moreover, Arenosols have a lower nitrogen sequestration capacity even in low-forest conditions. The study highlights significant differences in carbon accumulation due to the management practices, temporary water layers, and parent material.