Climate, carbon, and soil stability: a key link in coffee-growing landscapes of the Peruvian Amazon

• Autores: Romero Chávez, Lorena Estefani, Hermoza Ayme, Nilton Alexander, Chuchon Remon, Rodolfo Juan, Aldava Pardave, Uriel, Arroyo Isuiza, Rosa Karen, Solórzano Acosta, Richard Andi, Vallejos Torres, Geomar
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2026
• Institución: Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria
• Repositorio: INIA-Institucional
• Lenguaje: inglés
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.inia.gob.pe:20.500.12955/3100
• Enlace del recurso: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/3100; https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2026.1737123
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Altitudinal gradient; Gradiente altitudinal; Coffee cultivation; Cultivo de café; Peruvian Amazon; Amazonía peruana; Soil erodibility; Erosionabilidad del suelo; Soil organic carbon; Carbono orgánico del suelo; Structural stability; Estabilidad estructural; Sustainable land management; Manejo sostenible de suelos; https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.01; Carbon sequestration, Secuestro de carbono; Soil erosion models; Modelo de erosión del suelo; Organic matter, Materia orgánica; Agroforestry, Agroforestería, Soil conservation, Conservación del suelo; Soil texture, Textura del suelo.

Introduction: Coffee cultivation in the Central Peruvian Amazon, one of the country's most important production regions, faces increasing challenges from soil degradation and climate change impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the altitudinal gradient on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil erodibility (K index) in coffee-growing systems. Methods: Three altitudinal zones were established for sampling (0–20 cm depth): zone 1 (900–1200 m.a.s.l.), zone 2 (1201–1400 m.a.s.l.), and zone 3 (1401–1600 m.a.s.l.). Within these zones, physical and chemical soil properties were analyzed, and SOC and soil erodibility (K index) values were calculated. Results: The results revealed a direct and statistically significant relationship between altitude and carbon sequestration capacity. Zone 3 exhibited the highest SOC (63.19 t·ha⁻¹) and organic matter (OM) content (5.49%), compared with zone 1 (37.56 t·ha⁻¹). This difference is attributable to the climatic conditions at higher elevations, characterized by greater precipitation and lower temperatures. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that increasing altitude enhances SOC (b = 0.42), which in turn improves the soil structural stability index (SI) (R² = 0.87) and reduces the K index (b = –0.38). Overall, the findings demonstrate that organic carbon acts as a key mediator between topography, soil texture, and susceptibility to erosion. The altitudinal gradient thus represents a major controlling factor influencing the health and structural stability of coffee soils. Discussion: These results highlight the need to implement site-specific soil management practices, emphasizing intensive conservation strategies in low-altitude coffee-growing systems to mitigate accelerated erosion and ensure long-term production sustainability under changing climatic conditions.