Carbon Stock and Sequestration Potential in Biomass of Tea Agroforestry System in Barak Valley, Assam, North East India

Rinku Moni Kalita, Ashesh K. Das, Arun Jyoti Nath

Abstract


The study assessed the potential of carbon stock and sequestration in the biomass of three tea plantations of 6, 14 and 22 years age in the Cachar district in Barak valley ( 24˚ 39´ 27.7˝ N, 92˚ 41´ 46.8˝ E and 24˚ 40´ 49.3˝ N, 92˚ 39´ 49.9˝ E). Allometric equation was developed for biomass estimation in tea bushes. Shade tree biomass was estimated using species specific volume equation along with incorporation of wood specific gravity and biomass expansion factor (BEF). Carbon stock  in 6, 14 and 22 yr old plantations were 44.8 ± 1.3, 50.2 ± 4.6 and 56.7 ± 4.9 Mg C ha -1 with a share of  78.76 % and 21.24 % in above- and belowground compartment. Carbon sequestration was estimated 5.5 ± 0.55, 2.1 ± 1.34 and 0.7 ± 0.32 Mg C ha -1 yr-1 respectively, for the three  sites during the study period. Shade trees and tea bushes share 70.66 % and 29.34 % of total carbon stock. The medium girth (at 5 cm height) sized (>15-25 cm) tea bushes exhibit dominant cover (62.2 %) followed by smaller (≤ 15 cm) and larger sized (>25 cm) tea bushes. Medium GBH (50-90 cm) sized  shade trees store maximum (73.5 %) carbon followed by larger (> 90 cm) trees (17.7 %) and smaller sized (10-50 cm) trees (8.8 %).  Among the shade tree species encountered, Albizia odoratissima (63.9 %) is the major contributor to carbon storage followed by A. lebbeck  (24.3 %) and Derris robusta (8.7 %).

Keywords


Allometric Equation; Barak Valley; Biomass; Carbon Sequestration; Shade Tree; Tea Agroforestry System.

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