Biomass and carbon stock in Acacia catechu (Khair) plantation in tropical environment

Abstract

The present study on “Biomass and carbon stock in Acacia catechu plantation in tropical environment” was carried out at State Forest Research and Training Institute Raipur (Chhattisgarh), during the year 2020-2021. The total tree density in A. catechu plantation site was 575 stems ha-1. The total basal area of tree layer in A. catechu plantation site was 18.6 m2 ha-1. Total sapling and seedling density in A. catechu plantation site was 50 stems ha-1 and 200 stems ha-1 respectively. Total abundance for sapling and seedling layer in A. catechu plantation site was 4.83 and 12.22 respectively. The Shannon index in A. catechu plantation site for the tree, sapling and seedling layer was 0.43, 1.46 and 0.93, respectively. The Simpson’s index for tree, sapling and seedling layer were 0.13, 0.62 and 0.42, respectively. The evenness in A. catechu plantation site for tree, sapling and seedling were 0.39, 1.33 and 1.34, respectively. Species richness for tree, sapling and seedling layer was 0.31, 0.51 and 0.18, respectively. Beta diversity in A. catechu plantation site for tree, sapling and seedling layer was 1.76, 2.5 and 2.3, respectively. Total biomass, litter mass and carbon stock in A. catechu plantation site was 177.42, 8.49 t ha-1, 77.38 t ha-1 respectively. Soil pH, EC, total available nitrogen, available phosphorous, total available potassium and organic carbon in upper soil layer (0-10 cm) of A. catechu plantation site was 6.02, 114.7 ds/m, 288.51 kg/ha, 6.68 kg/ha, 123.42 kg/ha and 0.76%, respectively. Soil pH, EC, total available nitrogen, available phosphorous, total available potassium and organic carbon in lower soil layer (10-20 cm) of A. catechu plantation site was 6.5, 115.8 ds/m, 163.07 kg/ha, 6.38 kg/ha, 122.3 kg/ha and 0.70%, respectively. Study revealed the potential of A. catechu in biomass production and carbon storage and may contribute to climate mitigation process.