Exploring carbon sequestration potential in oil palm gardens

Abstract

The oil palm acts as a larger sinks for carbon than annual crops under irrigated conditions. Effective management of oil palm in India is of paramount importance to meet the demand for agricultural products by retaining high biodiversity and ecosystem service delivery. Hence standing perennial crops like oil palm serves as a net accumulator of carbon, thereby offsetting carbon emissions, arising from the consumption of fossil fuels and also helps in financial gains through carbon trading under the Kyoto Protocol. It also seems to be a prime candidate for storing carbon in which oil palm is grown and is eligible for the clean development mechanism. The findings of the study could be effectively used to develop a comprehensive and accurate database regarding the carbon storage in oil palm which judges the environmental impacts.