Biomass production and C-sequestration of Gmelina arborea in plantation and agroforestry system in India

• Published in: Agroforestry systems 2005-01, Vol.64 (3), p.181-195
• Main Authors: Swamy, S.L, Puri, S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: abandoned land; afforestation; Agricultural land; Agroforestry; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; carbon; carbon nitrogen ratio; Carbon sequestration; crops; forest plantations; forest yields; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Gmelina arborea; Land use; land use change; Leaves; Monoculture; nitrogen; Nutrient cycles; Plantations; Rainy season; Roots; soil nutrient dynamics; soil-plant interactions; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility; Soil-plant relationships. Soil fertility. Fertilization. Amendments; Soils; Soybeans; tree growth; tree nutrition; trees; wet season; winter
• ISSN: 0167-4366; 1572-9680
• DOI: 10.1007/s10457-004-1999-3

Tree based land use systems make a valuable contribution to sequester carbon and improve productivity and nutrient cycling within the systems. This study was conducted to determine biomass production, C-sequestration and nitrogen allocation in Gmelina arborea planted as sole and agrisilviculture system on abandoned agricultural land. At 5 years, total stand biomass in agrisilviculture system was 14.1 Mg ha^sup -1^. Plantations had 35% higher biomass than agrisilviculture system. At 5 years, leaves, stem, branches and roots contributed 4.1, 65.2, 10.0 and 20.7%, respectively to total standing biomass (17.9 Mg ha^sup -1^). Over the 5 years of study, trees had 3.5 Mg ha^sup -1^ more C and 36 kg ha^sup -1^ more N in plantation than agrisilviculture system. Biomass and C storage followed differential allocation. Relatively more C was allocated in above ground components in plantations compared to agrisilviculture system. C:N ratios for tree components were higher in stem wood (135-142) followed by roots (134-139), branches (123-128) and leaves (20-21). In agrisilviculture system crops recommended are: soybean and cowpea in rainy season; wheat and mustard in winter season. After 5 years, soil organic C increased by 51.2 and 15.1% and N by 38.4 and 9.3% in plantation and agrisilviculture system, respectively. Total C storage in abandoned agricultural land before planting was 26.3 Mg ha^sup -1^, which increased to 33.7 and 45.8 Mg ha^sup -1^ after 5 years in plantation and agrisilviculture system, respectively. Net C storage (soil + tree) was 7.4 Mg ha^sup -1^ in agrisilviculture system compared to 19.5 Mg ha^sup -1^ in G. arborea monoculture stands. The studies suggest that competitive interactions played a significant role in agrisilviculture system. Plantations were more efficient in accreting C than agrisilviculture system on abandoned agricultural land.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]