Biomass production and carbon storage at harvest age in superior Dendrocalamus strictus Nees. plantation in dry deciduous forest region of India

Abstract

Identification and propagation of quality planting material is required for optimum production of biomass and carbon storage. Very little work has been done on biomass production and carbon storage in improved stock of Dendrocalamus strictus. Present paper is an attempt to fill the gap on the basis of study in dry deciduous forest region. Three replicates of twelve distinct superior clumps growing in an ex-situ conservation plot were studied. The plantation was raised by rhizome propagation method in dry deciduous forest region and maintained by adopting normal silvicultural operations for the species. Commercial suitability of different origin stock indicated that natural source was better for paper pulp and rayon while plantation origin was more suited to housing and furniture construction purposes. For biomass estimation harvest technique and green dry weight ratio method were adopted. Total biomass at three years age ranged between 182.7 - 207.4 t ha-1. Above ground and below ground biomass production was 74% and 26%, respectively. Total carbon storage was to the tune of 91.35 - 103.70 t ha-1. This was comparable to other studies. Both biomass and carbon storage were higher in natural source stock than in the plantation. This species was found better than some hardwoods of tropical and temperate regions with regard to carbon storage. Regression equations were also developed for carbon estimation on the basis of diameter and height measurement. Some of the equations were highly significant.