Carbon Sequestration potential of Melia dubia progenies and plantations with varied spatial geometries at different age gradations in South Gujarat

Abstract

We evaluated Melia dubia for carbon sequestration potential under two different studies. First studies comprised of 17 open pollinated progenies planted at 3×3 m and the second one was plantations of same species at 2×2, 3×2, 3×3 and 4×2 m spatial geometries under randomized block design. The progeny evaluation study revealed that at the age of 5 years, progeny GJ09 produced maximum biomass (95.61 t/ha) with average maximum productivity of 19.12 t/ha/year, carbon stocks and carbon sequestration to tune of 48.76 t/ha and 178.95 t/ha, respectively. Further, progeny GJ09 showed carbon stock and carbon sequestration rate of 9.75 t/ha/year and 35.79 t/ha/year, respectively. The spatial geometry evaluation studies deduced that there was significant variation in biomass productivity, carbon stock and carbon sequestration among individuals under different spatial geometries. Although, at the age of 5-years, the individual tree biomass, carbon stock and carbon sequestration was maximum under 4×2 m spacing. However, at the 5-years of age, owing to the maximum tree per hectare 2×2 m spatial configuration provided highest biomass (20.29 t/ha/year), carbon stocks (10.35 t/ha/year) and carbon sequestration potential (24.94 t/ha/year). These studies revealed that M. dubia being fast growing species has great potential for carbon sequestration. The progenies with higher sequestration rate can be utilized for further planation programmes.