Biological carbon sequestration, ‘C’ footprints and CO2 offsets via organically vs inorganically grown fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
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Authors
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O.P. Aishwath*, S.S. Meena, R.S. Mehta, B.K. Mishra and M.M. Anwer
National Research Centre on Seed Spices, Tabiji - 305 206, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
Author
Keywords:
Biological carbon sequestration, C Footprints, CO2 offsets, Foeniculum vulgare, Inorganics, Organics.Abstract
A field experiment carried out with organic manures and mineral fertilizers along with absolute control.
There were 12 treatments comprising 10t ha-1 sheep manure, 4t ha-1 vermi-compost, recommended doses of
fertilizers (90:40:30 kg ha-1 of N:P:K) alone or in combination with Azotobacter and PSB inoculants. Results
revealed that biological sequestration of carbon (C) of fennel was higher with 10 t ha-1 sheep manure and
seeds inoculated with PSB over the other treatments and was least in control. However, C accumulation in
various parts of crop was more in stover (990.7 kg ha-1) followed by seed (699.6 kg ha-1) and roots (507.1 kg
ha-1). Similarly, highest CO2 offset can be achieved by using 10 t ha-1 sheep manure along with PSB in a
season (10.03 t ha-1) or per day (62.7 kg ha-1 day-1) basis. Among the manures, C foot print was also higher
with 10 t sheep manure along with PSB inoculants thereby net balance of CO2 offsets was higher with vermi-
compost (4t ha-1) than sheep manure. The net balance of CO2 offset was second highest with PSB and least
with control. The pool of soil organic carbon in rhizospheric soil was higher with vermi-compost followed by
recommended doses of fertilizers and sheep manure. Therefore, it can be assumed that highest CO2 offset
can be credited by fennel with vermi-compost. However, highest growth, yield and ‘C’ sequestration can be
achieved by sheep manure along with bio-fertilizers.
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