Biomass estimation and carbon sequestration in Populus deltoides plantations in India

Abstract

Trees are known to sequester the atmospheric carbon into long lived wood biomass and soil pool. This study reports growth, biomass, carbon storage and carbon sequestration potential of Populus deltoides in different age plantation. Mean carbon concentration in aboveground components varied from 44.1% to 47.8%. Carbon stock in Populus deltoides increased from 9.15 to 74.3 Mg ha-1 from 1 to 7-year plantation age. Soil carbon stock increased with age (1-7 years) from 11.8 to 17.6 Mg ha-1 and decreased with soil depth. Total carbon (biomass+soil) increased from 20.95 Mg C ha-1 at 1-year of age to 91.93 Mg C ha-1 at 7-year of age, which was more than four times higher than 1-year plantation. Maximum carbon sequestration rate was recorded at plantation age of 4year. Populus deltoides based plantation forestry was not only remunerative to the farmers but also substantially improved the soil health.