Keywords
Persea americana Hass variety
carbon capture
transpiration
water consumption
stomatal conductance (gs)
Colombian Andes
wood density
sustainable agriculture
environmental impacts and benefits
Categories
How to Cite
Abstract
This research, funded by the ScotiaBank Net Zero Research Fund, assessed carbon storage and water consumption in Hass avocado crops in the Colombian Andes through a comprehensive approach combining field measurements, spatial modeling, and technology development. Sampling was carried out on four producing farms, quantifying the aboveground biomass and wood density of Persea americana, revealing high variability influenced by factors such as altitude, rainfall, and management practices. These results confirm that wood density varies between sites and that local measurement is key to improving the accuracy of accumulated carbon estimates.
In parallel, stomatal conductance was measured in Hass avocado leaves, finding that their water-use behavior is comparable to that of native montane forest species. At the crop level, however, water consumption depends on planting density and agronomic management, underscoring the need to implement sustainable strategies to ensure the crop's viability without compromising water availability.
As a planning support tool, CuencApp was developed — a web application that simulates water balance and carbon storage under different land-use change scenarios in Andean watersheds. Using the Budyko framework and high-resolution spatial data, the model estimates surface runoff and assesses water sensitivity to avocado expansion. In the pilot watershed of Jericó (Antioquia), results showed that changes in vegetation cover can affect water availability under specific water-deficit conditions in the basin. The study thus proposes a comprehensive approach to promoting more sustainable territorial planning in ecologically sensitive regions.
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