Biomass Carbon Pool and Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in <I>Tectona Grandis</I> Plantations

Abstract

The carbon stored in above ground and below ground biomass of Tectona grandis(Linn. f.) planted in different years in the foot hill region of Darjeeling district, West Bengal was measured. In general, above ground biomass contributed 82 per cent of the total biomass and below ground (root biomass) contributed only 18 per cent. Litter biomass varied from 1.36 to 1.60 t/ha. The total biomass carbon pool varied from 57.36 to 135.99 tC/ha. The maximum pool was in the plant of 47 years and minimum when the plantation age was 18 years. The average soil organic carbon stock up to 90 cm soil depth was 188.80 tC/ha and up to 60 cm soil depth was 163.55 tC/ha. The ratio between SOC and biomass carbon varied between 1.82 and 2.31.