CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND PRODUCTION OF Eucalyptus camaldulensis PLANTATIONS ON MARGINAL SANDY AGRICULTURAL LANDS

Abstract

Among different available options of storing and sequestering the atmospheric carbon, the use of perennial woody vegetation is an efficient, cheaper and environmental friendly strategy. Understanding the growth habit of trees under hostile environmental conditions and their capacity to sequester CO2 is of great interest for forestry scientists. The main objectives of the study were to analyze the growth habit of Eucalyptus camaldulensis on sandy marginal lands, assess the tree carbon stocks on sandy soils and to examine the potential of study area to play a role in environmental improvement while reducing the atmospheric CO2. The study was carried out in Noorpur Thal region of Punjab. A survey of the study area was carried out through a pre-tested questionnaire and measurements of trees were taken in situ to calculate the biomass and carbon stocks. It was found that 19.47% of the Noorpur Thal region was covered by Eucalyptus plantations while this area can be potentially covered up to 55%. The growth habit and biomass production of Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees was excellent when grown on marginal sandy soils with proper irrigation. The total carbon stocks present were about 1.80 Mega ton and the CO2 sequestration rate was observed about 6.58 Mega ton year -1. However, at 55% potential, this area can sequester the 18.59 Mega ton of C worth about US$ 1459.315 million. This study might be extended to quantify the CO2 sequestration potential if further 6.5 million hectares saline and waterlogged marginal lands are afforested in Pakistan with Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantations.

Agroforestry Status and Its Role to Sequester Atmospheric Co2 Under Semi-Arid Climatic Conditions in Pakistan

“…It means that 54 trees can be grown at one ha. 54 trees were taken as potential trees and the potential of each union council to capture carbon and carbon dioxide was calculated by using statistical tools (Nawaz et al, 2017b).…”

“…And carbon concentration of soil for each cropping pattern was calculated by using Walkely Black method (Savoy, 2013). The other characteristics of soils which were being studied are soil EC, pH, Organic Matter (%), Saturation percentage, N, P, K and C/N according to standard protocols (Nawaz et al, 2017b).…”

“…Although the additional income from farms trees per year was not too much but its provision timing worths great. So, farmers with small land holdings plant more number of trees as compared to progressive farmers (Nawaz et al, 2017b) . In forest deficient developing countries like Pakistan, farmers can be well motiviated to increase the farm trees through proper policies and provision of financial and technical support (Nawaz et al, 2016).…”

Evaluation of Agroforestry Carbon Storage Status and Potential in Irrigated Plains of Pakistan

“…Unfortunately, Pakistan's terrestrial carbon sequestration is at the bottom among South Asian countries because of poor forestry resources [6,7]. However, agroforestry systems have the potential to address both food insecurity and carbon mitigation goals [8,9]. Agroforestry is a system in which trees and different crops are merged together in the same area for net economic returns to farmers [10].…”

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON WATER USE EFFICIENCY BETWEEN INTRODUCED SPECIES (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) AND INDIGENOUS SPECIES (Tamarix aphylla) ON MARGINAL SANDY LANDS OF NOORPUR THAL

“…Anthropogenic activities are considered as the major cause for climate change and global warming (Nawaz et al, 2017a). Harsh weather conditions and high temperatures due to global warming are accelerating the problems of drought, glacier melting and floods (Davidson et al, 2012;Nawaz et al, 2017b). Predicted scenario as the result of climate change will negatively affect the global environment and may result in the agriculture crises (Valipour et al, 2017).…”