EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY OF CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN SIMAROUBA (Simarouba glauca DC)
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Date
2009-07-15
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University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore
Abstract
Carbon sequestration is one of the important ecological services
needed to mitigate climate change. Trees act as a sink for carbon dioxide.
Fast growing multipurpose tree species like Simarouba glauca will be of
great use to help mitigate accelerated global warming through uptake
and storage of carbon.
Carbon sequestration and gas exchange characteristics of
Simarouba glauca was quantified across an age group of 2, 5, and 10
years and in two different climatic zones of southern Karnataka viz.
transition zone and dry zone. Population was available only in these two
zones. To estimate total leaf area in a non-destructive way, leaf area
factor was developed and used.
Total above ground stored carbon was 0.33, 2.73 and 11.04 t/ha
for 2, 5 and 10 year old trees respectively under transition zone, and
0.55, 1.99 and 15.67 t/ha for 2, 5 and 10 year old plants respectively
under dry zone. Trunk contributes 39.57 per cent to total above ground
biomass followed by primary branches i.e. 39.16 per cent. Gas exchange
parameters like photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and
transpiration rate were more in 5 year old trees compared to 2 year old
plants. However, taking into account the longevity, Simarouba glauca an
evergreen species, by its continuous photosynthetic activity, contribute
to reduce carbon dioxide throughout the year. All over the world carbon
sequestration ability was evaluated for nineteen important tree species
and, Simarouba glauca stands at 13th position for its better carbon
sequestration.
The study revealed that, Simarouba glauca is one of the important
multipurpose tree species in India for afforestation programme that can
help in earning a good lively hood and can contribute in mitigating the
climate change in variety of ecological zones.
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