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Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation

Tree Species based Agroforestry Systems in Terai Region of
Central Himalaya

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 Chapter 12
Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast
Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based
Agroforestry Systems in Terai Region of
Central Himalaya
S Sarvade*, HS Mishra1, Rajesh Kaushal2, Sumit Chaturvedi1,
Rahul Singh3, Chaman Lal3 and Varun Attri3
College of Agriculture, Balaghat, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya,
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
1
Department of Agronomy, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology,
Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India
2
Central Soil and Water Conservation Research & Training Institute,
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
3
College of Forestry, Dr. Y. S. Parmar UHF, Nauni-173 230 (HP), India
*Corresponding author’s Email: somanath553@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Tree species viz., Populus deltoides (poplar), Eucalyptus camaldulensis
(eucalyptus), Melia azedarach (melia) and Leucaena leucocephala
(leucaena) are widely used on farm lands for multiple uses in Terai region
of Central Himalaya, India. Poplar trees were recorded highest height (9.57
m) at very dense/close tree spacing (3.0×1.0m), whereas it showed inverse
relation with diameter at breast height (0.112 m at 3.0×2.5m tree spacing).
Poplar showed significant fast growth (13.11 m2 tree-1 basal area and 2.357 m3
tree-1 volume) at relative wider tree spacing (3.0×2.5m) as compared to other
tree species. The higher total tree biomass (3.521 t ha-1) and carbon density
(1.655 t ha-1) were also recorded by poplar trees at 3.0×1.0m spacing. Total
crop biomass and carbon density were increased with increasing tree spacing
under all Short Rotation Fast Growing Tree species (SRFGTs) except eucalyptus
at 3.0×1.5m tree spacing, where higher total crop biomass and carbon density
were recorded. Soil bulk density, organic carbon and organic matter were
improved at very dense planting of SRFGTs. The higher soil organic carbon
(67.494 t ha-1) was recoded under poplar at very dense tree spacing. Poplar
based agroforestry system with very dense tree spacing recorded higher total
system biomass (3.916 t ha-1) and carbon density (69.326 t ha-1).
Keywords: Aboveground and belowground biomass, Climate change
mitigation, Soil bulk density, Soil organic carbon
154  Agroforestry for Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihood

INTRODUCTION
The greenhouse gases (GHGs) viz., carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, nitrous
oxide and chlorofluorocarbons absorbs heat from re-radiated in outer space results in to
warming of the earth surface (IPCC 2006). Their concentration in an atmosphere has
considerably increased over the last century and is set to rise further (Albrecht and Kandji
2003). Warming of the earth is one of the important issues in the developing world which
germinates the seeds of climate change. It affects differently i.e. positively and negatively
on natural systems of the world. The increased atmospheric CO2 could have some positive
effects such as improved plant productivity (Keutgen and Chen 2001, Bonan 2008, Bala
et al 2010), however, changes in the global climate (rising temperatures, higher frequency
of droughts and floods) are mostly associated with an increased concentration of CO2
in the atmosphere (USDA NRSC 2000). The sustainable development along with farm
productivity and food security is going to slow down day by day. CO2 contributes highest
among all the green house gases, in global warming. Deforestation is the largest source of
global greenhouse gases emission. Demand and supply gap in fuel wood, timber and fodder,
shifting cultivation, skewed development, poverty are the main causes of deforestation. It
creates extra pressure on the present natural resources (Gibbs et al 2007).
Agroforestry being complex system has potential to combat these problems (Albrecht
and Kandji 2003, Nair 2012). Short rotation fast growing tree species (SRFGTs) are the
tree species grown with a rotation period of 6 to 12 years and having high productivity at
least 10 to 30 m3 ha-1 yr-1 (Sarvade et al 2014b). Poplar, eucalyptus, melia and leucaena
are the most widely practiced SRFGTs with wheat for industrial timber in terai region
of Northern India (Sarvade et al 2014a). It helps to bridge the gap between demand and
supply of industrial timber (Mishra et al 2010). These commercial tree species have great
potential to fix atmospheric carbon (Joshi et al 2013). The five years poplar stored 34.075 t
ha-1 carbon in poplar based agroforestry system of central zone of Punjab, India (Chauhan
et al 2012). Poplar, eucalyptus and melia plantations from Northern plains of India, stored
10.74, 9.36 and 3.96 t ha-1 carbon, respectively and showed their potential for plantation on
farmers’ fields except melia (Chauhan et al 2009). The different fast growing species with
their planting geometry at specific locality factors affects the growth and carbon storage
potential (Nair et al 2009, 2010, Saha et al 2010, Nair 2012, Arora et al 2014). Information
on the effects of planting density on C sequestration by fast growing MPTs is scarce (Jandl
et al 2007). As the tree species and their geometry or/and different spacing designs affect
significantly on their growth and CO2 sequestration potential, present investigation was
carried out to examine the CO2 sequestration potential of SRFGTs based agroforestry
systems in terai region.

METHODOLOGY
Study Area
Study was carried out in the years of 2009-2010 at agroforestry research station, Haldi, G. B.
Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, in Udham Singh Nagar district
of Uttarakhand. The study site is situated at 290 00’ N latitude and 790 30’ E longitude
with an altitude of 243.84m asl. Area lies in foothills of the Shivalik ranges in narrow strip
called ‘terai’ region. The silty-clay-loam soils are developed from calcareous, medium to
 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based... 155

moderately coarse textured materials under pre-dominant influence of tall vegetation and
moderate to well drain conditions. The soils are weakly developed with mollic epipedons
and classified under order Mollisol, sub-order Udoll, great group Hapludoll, sub-group
typic Hapludoll (Deshpande et al 1971a, b). Climate of the area is humid and sub-tropical,
experiences hot and dry summers, and cold winters. The dry season starts from early
October and runs up to mid-June, and the monsoon season starts in the third or fourth
week of June and lasts until September or the first week of October. The mean annual
rainfall was 1266 mm and minimum-maximum temperature ranged from 6.64 to 37.330C
during the period of investigation. Relative humidity of the area ranged from 43.77 to
80.29 per cent (Fig. 1). SRFGTs (T1: Populus deltoides Bartr. ex. Marsh; T2: Eucalyptus
camaldulensis Dehn; T3: Melia azedarach Linn. and T4: Leucaena leucocephala de Wit)
were planted in the year of 2007-08 with four spacing treatments viz., S1: 3×1m, S2:
3×1.5m, S3: 3×2m and S4: 3×2.5m. Wheat (Triticum aestivum Linn.), variety PBW-502
was cultivated under four SRFGTs with recommended cultural practices during the first
week of November, 2009 and harvested in April, 2010.

Figure 1:  Monthly averageweather data of the study area (2007–2010)

ESTIMATION OF VEGETATION BIOMASS AND CARBON STOCK

The volume of an individual tree species was calculated by using Pressler formula (Pressler
1895) used by Koul and Panwar (2008). The aboveground biomass was calculated by
multiplying volume by wood specific gravity (Devagiri et al 2013, Pande et al 2010,
Sheikh et al 2012) and biomass expansion factor of 1.3 (IPCC 2006). The belowground
biomass of trees was determined by multiplying aboveground biomass with factor 0.25
following IPCC (1996). The aboveground and belowground biomass was converted in to
carbon stock by using conversion factor of 0.5 given by IPCC (2006) and Nair (2012). The
production of wheat crop was converted in to aboveground biomass by using conversion
factor and equation given by Wani et al (2010). The belowground biomass was determined
156  Agroforestry for Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihood

by using shoot-root ratio (0.13). The carbon content in aboveground and belowground
biomass was calculated by multiplying biomass by 0.45 (Wani et al 2010). The collected
and processed soil samples were analysed for organic carbon (OC) by using Walkley and
Black (1934) method. Soil bulk density (g cc-1) was determined by pycnometer and/or
weighing bottle method (Singh 1980). The amount of carbon stored in soil (t ha-1) was
determined by following equation given by Joa Carlos et al (2001). Total carbon stock (t
ha-1) of the system was determined by summing up carbon stored in tree-crop components
(above and belowground) and soil organic carbon. The data on tree and crop growth,
biomass production, carbon storage, bulk density and soil organic carbon analyzed to
examine the effect of tree species and their spacing on carbon sequestration potential of
overall system by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using JMP/ SAS 10.0 statistical software.
Significant differences were tested at P ≤ 0.05 using Tukey HSD test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Growth and Structure of FGSRTs
Height and diameter at breast height showed inverse relation for all tree species at all
spacing treatments (Fig. 2). The closer spacing (S1) showed highest values of height
for all FGSRTs. Poplar tree grows fast as they showed significant differences in case of
growth parameters. The lowest values of height and dbh were recorded for melia tree
species. Poplar planted at closer spacing grows taller, whereas dbh growth was greater at
wider spacing (S4). Poplar trees produce significantly higher volume of timber (Table 1).
Wider spacing of poplar trees benefited to produce higher volume, however it statistically
similar with S2 and S3 spacing treatments. The basal area of poplar and eucalyptus was
lower at spacing S3, whereas higher basal area of poplar (13.11 m2 tree-1) was recorded at
wider spacing and eucalyptus at closer spacing. Melia at closer spacing showed 77.35%
lower basal area than poplar trees at wider spacing. Basal area of leucaena decreased
with increasing spacing. The study showed that the poplar trees grown fast than the other
three FGSRTs. Fast growth rate of poplar was also reported by Chauhan et al (2009) in
agroforestry systems of northern plains of India. Singh et al (1989), Kohli et al (1997),
Chauhan et al (2012) and Arora et al (2014) also reported the excellent growth rate of exotic
tree species especially poplar tree species. The high productivity of poplar up to 50 m3 ha-1
yr-1 has been reported by Gill et al (2009) in irrigated poplar based agroforestry systems
of north-western India. The closely planted tree species grow faster due to withstand the
competition for light, moisture and nutrients (Bhardwaj et al 2001).
 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based... 157

Figure 2:  Tree height and diameter at breast height (dbh)

influenced by their spacing

Table 1:  Growth, basal area, biomass production and carbon density
of tree components

FGSRTs and Basal area Volume (m3 AGB BGB AGC BGC
spacing (m2 tree-1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1) (t ha-1)
Tree-1)
T1
S1 12.37a 1.625b 2.817a 0.704a 1.324a 0.331a
S2 12.97a 2.173ab 2.511ab 0.628ab 1.180ab 0.295ab
S3 10.54a 2.022ab 1.753bc 0.438bc 0.824bc 0.206bc
S4 13.11a 2.357a 1.634cd 0.409cd 0.768cd 0.192cd
T2
S1 10.60a 0.861c 2.415ab 0.604ab 1.135ab 0.284ab
S2 9.40ab 0.786cd 1.470cd 0.367cd 0.691cd 0.173cd
S3 9.03ab 0.610cde 0.855de 0.214de 0.402de 0.100de
S4 9.61ab 0.592cde 0.664ef 0.166ef 0.312ef 0.078ef
T3
S1 2.97c 0.054e 0.161ef 0.040ef 0.076ef 0.019ef
S2 3.08c 0.051e 0.102ef 0.025ef 0.048ef 0.012ef
S3 3.36c 0.051e 0.077ef 0.019ef 0.036ef 0.009ef
S4 3.06c 0.036e 0.044f 0.011f 0.021f 0.005f
T4
S1 5.98bc 0.184de 0.600ef 0.149ef 0.280ef 0.070ef
S2 4.74c 0.166de 0.357ef 0.089ef 0.168ef 0.042ef
S3 4.48c 0.174de 0.282ef 0.071ef 0.133ef 0.033ef
S4 4.12c 0.153e 0.197ef 0.049ef 0.093ef 0.023ef
P value 0.5682 0.0328 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
158  Agroforestry for Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihood

Where, AGB is aboveground biomass, BGB is belowground biomass, AGC is

aboveground carbon, BGC is belowground carbon. Values in the same column followed
by the same letter are not significantly different at P  0.05 level by using Tukey-Kramer
HSD test.

BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND CARBON STORAGE BY FGSRTs

AND ANNUAL CROP
Poplar planted at closer spacing produce higher aboveground and belowground biomass,
whereas it was statistically at par with poplar planted at S2 and eucalyptus planted at closer
spacing treatment. Melia planted at wider spacing showed 98.44 % reduction in biomass
(aboveground and belowground) production as compared to poplar at closer spacing. The
biomass production by wheat crop was non-significantly affected by tree species and their
spacing treatments (Table 2). Crop sown under poplar at wider spacing produces higher
aboveground and belowground biomass. Increasing tree spacing showed positive effect
on crop aboveground and belowground biomass production for all tree species except
eucalyptus, it produces highest biomass at S3 spacing treatment. Carbon storage followed
the trend of biomass production. The carbon (aboveground and belowground) storage
potential was decreased with increasing tree spacing for all four FGSRTs (Table 1). The
significantly highest carbon was stored by poplar trees planted at closer spacing; however it
was statistically similar with poplar planted at S2 and evcalyptus planted at closer spacing.
Melia planted at wider spacing stored 98.41 % lowest carbon followed by leucaena (92.98
%) and eucalyptus (76.43 %) than poplar planted at closer spacing. Carbon stored by
crop was higher under poplar at wider spacing. Whereas carbon stored by crop was 36.73
% lower under melia trees planted at S2 spacing treatment compared to poplar at wider
spacing. Biomass production and carbon storage capacity of vegetation also depends on
the growth rate and growth properties of tree species. Poplar trees grow faster and produce
more biomass and store high carbon in standing biomass (Chauhan et al 2012, Arora et al
2014). The biomass production and carbon storage were influenced directly or indirectly
due to growing nature of tree species and their spacing. Closer spacing increases tree-crop
competition for light, moisture and nutrients and reduces biomass production and carbon
storage capacity (Sharma et al 2001, Kaushik and Singh 2001, Kumar et al 2006, Chauhan
and Dhiman 2007).
Table 2:  Biomass production and carbon stored by wheat crop

FGSRTs and AGB (t ha-1) BGB (t ha-1) AGC (t ha-1) BGC (t ha-1)
spacing
T1
S1 0.349a 0.045a 0.157a 0.020a
S2 0.396a 0.052a 0.178a 0.023a
S3 0.497a 0.065a 0.224a 0.029a
S4 0.611a 0.079a 0.275a 0.036a
T2
S1 0.403a 0.052a 0.181a 0.024a
S2 0.421a 0.055a 0.189a 0.025a
 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based... 159

S3 0.464a 0.060a 0.209a 0.027a

S4 0.396a 0.052a 0.178a 0.023a
T3
S1 0.410a 0.053a 0.184a 0.024a
S2 0.386a 0.050a 0.174a 0.023a
S3 0.553a 0.072a 0.249a 0.032a
S4 0.564a 0.073a 0.254a 0.033a
T4
S1 0.467a 0.061a 0.210a 0.027a
S2 0.527a 0.069a 0.237a 0.031a
S3 0.494a 0.064a 0.222a 0.029a
S4 0.561a 0.073a 0.253a 0.033a
P value 0.2794 0.2794 0.2794 0.2794

Where, AGB is aboveground biomass, BGB is belowground biomass, AGC is

aboveground carbon, BGC is belowground carbon. Values in the same column followed
by the same letter are not significantly different at P  0.05 level by using Tukey-Kramer
HSD test.

SOIL PROPERTIES AND ORGANIC CARBON

The effect of FGSRTs and spacing treatment was non-significant on soil bulk density (P >
0.05), however eucalyptus planted at wider spacing recorded higher (1.42 g cc-1) soil bulk
density (Table 3). The closer spacing showed reduction in soil bulk density. The lower
value of soil bulk density (1.31 g cc-1) was recorded from poplar, melia and leucaena plots
planted at closer spacing, it showed 7.75 % reduction. Soil organic carbon and soil organic
matter were recorded higher (1.727 and 2.977 %, respectively) from poplar planted at
closer spacing (Table 3), however it was non-significantly (P > 0.05) affected by FGSRTs
and spacing treatments. Soil organic carbon was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced and
recorded significantly highest (67.494 t ha-1) from poplar planted at closer spacing (Table
3). Melia planted at wider spacing recorded lower (52.49 % lower than poplar planted at
closer spacing) soil organic carbon (32.068 t ha-1). Improvement of soil properties under
tree species also helps to foster the tree growth and, biomass production and carbon storage
potential (Dutta and Agrawal 2002). They also reported that the soil nutrients status also
the factors limiting plant growth. Poplar shed their leaves during the wheat sowing period;
it helps to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil (Gill et al 2009, Sarvade et al 2014b).
Fang et al (2005) reported potential of poplar in ecological and site productivity benefits.
Mishra et al (2002, 2004) also reported increase of SOC under plantation of fast growing
tree species. The closer spacing of tree species adds more organic matter and improves soil
properties than wider spacing. The soil organic carbon (t ha-1) increased with improving
soil properties such as organic carbon (%) and bulk density (Fig. 3).
160  Agroforestry for Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihood

Table 3. Soil properties and organic carbon in FGSRTs based agroforestry systems
FGSRTs and Bulk density Organic Soil Organic Soil Organic Carbon
spacing (g cc-1) Carbon (%) Matter (%) in t ha-1 (E)
T1
S1 1.31d 1.727a 2.977a 67.494a
S2 1.33cd 1.050b 1.810b 41.670b
S3 1.35bcd 1.217ab 2.098ab 49.103ab
S4 1.37abc 1.040b 1.793b 42.580b
T2
S1 1.34bcd 1.040b 1.793b 41.729b
S2 1.39ab 1.043b 1.799b 43.308ab
S3 1.37abc 0.967b 1.667b 39.504b
S4 1.42a 0.853b 1.471b 36.198b
T3
S1 1.31d 1.193ab 2.057ab 46.699ab
S2 1.34bcd 1.320ab 2.276ab 52.997ab
S3 1.32cd 1.013b 1.747b 39.797b
S4 1.37abc 0.783b 1.350b 32.068b
T4
S1 1.31d 1.230ab 2.121ab 48.142ab
S2 1.35bcd 0.970b 1.672b 39.106b
S3 1.35bcd 1.113b 1.919b 44.824ab
S4 1.39ab 1.067b 1.839b 44.296ab
P value 0.5717 0.0511 0.0511 0.0424

Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different
at P  0.05 level by using Tukey-Kramer HSD test.
 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based... 161

Figure 3:  Relation of Soil Organic Carbon (t/ha) with Organic Carbon (%)
and Soil Bulk Density

TOTAL BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND CARBON STORAGE

POTENTIAL
Total tree biomass (aboveground + belowground) was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by
tree species and reduced with widening the planting distance (Table 4). Poplar plated at
closer spacing produced highest total biomass (3.52 t ha-1), however it was statistically
similar with poplar with S2 spacing (3.139 t ha-1) and eucalyptus planted at closer spacing
(3.018 t ha-1). The highest (98.44 %) reduction in biomass production was showed by melia
planted at wider spacing as compared to poplar planted at closer spacing. Total biomass
produced by annual wheat crop was non-significant (P > 0.05), whereas wider spacing
recorded higher crop biomass from all tree species except eucalyptus. Eucalyptus planted
at S3 spacing recorded higher crop biomass (0.524 t ha-1), however poplar planted at wider
spacing recorded higher (0.691 t ha-1) crop biomass as compared to all other tree species.
Total system biomass (total tree + total crop) was affected significantly (P < 0.05) and
recorded higher (3.916 t ha-1) biomass from poplar planted at closer spacing. Total carbon
density of vegetation follows the pattern of their biomass production. Carbon density of
poplar tree species planted at closer spacing was significantly higher (P < 0.05); however
it was statistically similar with poplar planted at S2 spacing and eucalyptus planted at S1
spacing. Total carbon stored by annual crop was affected non-significantly (P > 0.05),
whereas wider spacing of tree species improves carbon storage in wheat crop (Table 4).
Total system carbon density (tree + crop + soil) was statistically higher (69.326 t ha-1)
under poplar planted at closer spacing (P = 0.0433). However poplar at S3, melia at S1 and
S2, and leucaena at S1 and S3 spacing was statistically at par with poplar planted at closer
162  Agroforestry for Climate Resilience and Rural Livelihood

spacing for total system carbon density. Melia planted at wider spacing recorded lower
total system carbon density, whereas it showed 53.29 % lower carbon density compared
to poplar at closer spacing. The total system carbon storage also depends on the factors
mentioned above, which affects directly or indirectly. It is mainly affected by carbon
storage in soil and tree component of the system.
Table 4:  Total biomass (t ha-1) production and carbon (t ha-1) sequestration
potential of FGSRTs based agroforestry systems

FGSRTs Total tree Total crop Total Total tree Total crop Total
and spacing biomass biomass system carbon carbon system
(A) (B) biomass density density carbon
(A+B) (C) (D) (C+D+E)
T1
S1 3.521a 0.395a 3.916a 1.655a 0.178a 69.326a
S2 3.139ab 0.448a 3.587ab 1.475ab 0.202a 43.347b
S3 2.191bc 0.562a 2.753bc 1.030bc 0.253a 50.385ab
S4 2.043cd 0.691a 2.734bc 0.960cd 0.311a 43.852b
T2
S1 3.018ab 0.456a 3.474ab 1.419ab 0.205a 43.353b
S2 1.837cd 0.475a 2.312cd 0.863cd 0.214a 44.385b
S3 1.069de 0.524a 1.593de 0.502de 0.236a 40.242b
S4 0.830ef 0.448a 1.278de 0.390ef 0.202a 36.789b
T3
S1 0.201ef 0.463a 0.664e 0.095ef 0.208a 47.002ab
S2 0.127ef 0.437a 0.564e 0.060ef 0.197a 53.253ab
S3 0.096ef 0.625a 0.721e 0.045ef 0.281a 40.124b
S4 0.055f 0.638a 0.693e 0.026f 0.287a 32.380b
T4
S1 0.745ef 0.528a 1.273de 0.350ef 0.238a 48.729ab
S2 0.447ef 0.596a 1.043e 0.210ef 0.268a 39.584b
S3 0.353ef 0.558a 0.911e 0.166ef 0.251a 45.240ab
S4 0.249ef 0.634a 0.883e 0.116ef 0.285a 44.67b
P value 0.0001 0.2794 0.0005 0.0001 0.2794 0.0433

Values in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different
at P  0.05 level by using Tukey-Kramer HSD test.

CONCLUSION
Fast growing and short rotation tree species planted at close spacing produce high biomass
and show carbon storage potential in agroforestry systems of northern plains of India.
Poplar-wheat agroforestry system is very widely used system in Tarai region of India.
Poplar planted at closer spacing grows fast and produce more biomass. Leaf shading by
poplar at closer spacing during wheat sowing season made some hindrance on crop growth
 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Fast Growing Short Rotation Tree Species based... 163

but showed better results on soil health. Overall, poplar based agroforestry system with
closer spacing produce high biomass and showed carbon storage potential.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors are grateful to the Agroforestry Research Centre, Pantnagar for allowing and
providing facilities. Thanks to Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India for providing financial assistance. Acknowledgements are also due to various field
assistants for their help data collection activities.

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