Evaluating Multipurpose Tree Species for Biomass Production and Amelioration of Sodic Soil

Abstract

Ten multipurpose tree species were raised on sodic soil of Gangetic alluvium in north India (26°47¢ N; 80°46¢ E) with the objective to generate fuel wood in short rotations on sodic wastelands and their amelioration through plantation. All the species except Prosopis alba showed <10% mortality indicating the ability to establish under stress conditions. Maximum plant height was recorded with Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Casuarina equisetifolia and Prosopis juliflora. Acacia nilotica outperformed the other species in terms of diameter at breast height (DBH) with a basal area of 13.04 m2 ha-1 which was followed by Prosopis juliflora and Casuarina equisetifolia with a basal area of 9.92 and 9.64 m2 ha-1. Out of the ten species evaluated, aboveground biomass production of Prosopis juliflora was greatest among the Terminalia arjuna, Azadirachta indica, Pongamia pinnata, Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis alba, Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pithecellobium dulce and Cassia siamea after ten years of growth period. As a result of plantation of these species on sodic soil, marked reduction in soil bulk density, pH, EC and exchangeable sodium percentage was observed, while there was increase in soil organic C content and infiltration rate after ten years of plantation. Prosopis juliflora was found to have maximum biomass production, recycle maximum N and C in soil through litter fall and thus having high sodic soil amelioration potential among the evaluated multipurpose tree species.