The Amazon region has been subjected to continuous deforestation and expansion of land use for the implementation of activities such as cattle ranching, logging, agriculture, mining and urbanization. The burning and decomposition of forest biomass releases gases that contribute to global warming, such as carbon dioxide (CO2). In this context, there is interest in assessing the dynamics of soil CO2 efflux in the Amazon, especially in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) agroforestry systems, due to the current large expansion of this crop in the state of Pará, which has become one of the largest producers of the country. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of soil CO2 efflux in palm oil cultivation in agroforestry systems in the Amazon considering temporal and biotic and abiotic factors that directly influence this process. We quantified biotic factors: microbial biomass, total soil carbon, soil basal respiration, fine root and soil zone of influence of planted species, and abiotic factors: moisture and soil temperature, in two oil palm-based agroforestry systems (adubadeiras and biodiverso systems), during the dry and rainy periods. The results showed that the highest soil CO2 efflux occurred during the rainy season, probably due to increased microbial activity during this period influenced by climatic factors coupled with biotic factors. The biodiverso system showed higher soil efflux than the fertilizer adubadeiras system, probably due to increase biological activity in former system. The soil CO2 efflux showed no strong correlation with the tested variables. It was concluded that the soil CO2 efflux was influenced by rainfall seasonality only. The fact that the systems were be too young (~3 yr-old) may represent the main factor for a lack of stronger relationship of soil CO2 efflux and the variables analyzed.
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