Estimation of Biomass and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. and Melia composita Willd. Plantations in the Tarai Region (India)

This study was carried out in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand, India to estimate the carbon stock and sequestration potential of Dalbergia latifolia and Melia composita plantations of different ages (4 and 6 years old). A total of 14 regression equations using one variable, dbh (diameter at breast height), were primarily selected for both of the tree species component-wise. Tree density was 880 and 960 individuals ha(-1) in D. latifolia and M. composita monoplantations, respectively. These equations were statistically significant (p < 0.01, p < 0.05) at 95% confidence interval. The total biomass of trees, shrubs, and herbs at the different-aged plantations varied from 68.86 to 145.14 Mg ha(-1), 1.29 to 2.41 Mg ha(-1), and 1.14 to 3.68 Mg ha(-1), respectively. Among the studied plantations, the maximum total biomass of 145.14 Mg ha(-1) was recorded at the M. composita plantation (7 years old), resulting in the maximum carbon stock of 68.94 Mg C ha(-1). Total NPP ranged from 5.6 Mg ha(-1)yr(-1) to 16.01 Mg ha(-1)yr(-1) for both plantations of different ages. The carbon sequestration in the M. composita 7-year-old plantation was 7.6 Mg Cha(-1)yr(-1). Quantified carbon sequestration among different tree components must be considered for tree-level inventories for carbon trading schemes when determining the long-term carbon pools under the Paris agreement.