Dynamics of Greenhouse Gases and Nitrogen Cycle Indicators in Oil Palm Plantations in the Сimitarra River Valley
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2712-7443-2026-50-1-33-46Keywords:
DNDC model, greenhouse gases, nitrogen cycle indicators, African oil palm, ColombiaAbstract
This article presents a multi-year assessment of gas flux dynamics in African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations using the biogeochemical DNDC model in the Peasant Reserve Zone of the Cimitarra River Valley (Colombia) for the years 2015, 2018, and 2023. The model simulated the fluxes of the main greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O), as well as process-indicator gases (NH₃, NO, and N₂), which reflect soil processes such as nitrification, denitrification, and nitrogen volatilization. The results reveal differentiated behaviors: decreases in CO₂ and N₂O emissions, negative values for CH₄ indicating a sink function under oil palm plantations, and moderate fluctuations in NH₃, NO, and N₂ as indicators of nitrogen transformation processes. The findings highlight the influence of agricultural management practices and climatic variability on gas fluxes. Overall, the results confirm the applicability of the DNDC model as a tool not only for greenhouse gas monitoring but also for diagnosing key soil processes in tropical agroecosystems, thereby supporting the design of differentiated climate mitigation strategies.
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