Accounting Poplar and Wheat Productivity for Carbon Sequestration in Agri-silvicultural System

Abstract

The increasing level ot green house gases in general and carbon dioxide in particular has raised concerns about the vulnerability of human, animal and plant life. Forests though serve as source and sink of the CO₂ there is need to synthesize the impact of climate change on forests and the role of forests in global carbon cycle. Soil accounts for a major organic carbon pool, which needs to be quantified in tree based systems. At a rotation of seven years, poplar timber carbon content was 23.57t/ha and an equal amount was contributed by roots, leaves and tree bark. The contribution of branches was 24 per cent of the total 62,48t poplar biomass (carbon storage) in seven years. Soil organic carbon increase was also substantial under tree-crop interface than sole wheat cultivation. The annual biomass in agroforestry intervention not only accumulated sixty per cent more carbon but a major portion of carbon is stored over a longer period than the sole crop.