Growth, biomass production and CO2 sequestration of some important multipurpose trees under rainfed conditions

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Agroforestry Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat during 2019-20 on six years old Agroforestry tree plantation which consisting of five multipurpose tree species (MPTs) viz., Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Gmelina arborea, Casuriana equisetifolia, Melia azadiracht was designed in completely randomized block design with four replications. Significantly higher plant height (16.19 m), collar diameter (19.34 cm), DBH (15.48 cm), tree canopy N-S (5.27 m) and E-W (5.84 m), above ground green and dry biomass i.e. 1514.75 kg/tree and 1073.18 kg/tree and below ground green and dry biomass i.e. 302.94 kg/tree and 219.64 kg/tree, respectively was recorded in Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The highest carbon content (41.32%) and CO2 sequestration (1609.91 kg/tree and 1006.20 t/ha) was recorded under Casuarina equisetifolia and Eucalyptus camaldulensis tree species, respectively. The mean maximum SOC (0.251 Mg/m3) was noted under Casuriana equisetifolia tree species which was 105.72 percent higher over control.