Carbon Sequestration Potential of Oil Palm Plantations in Tamil Nadu Regimes, India

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), being a potential carbon sequestering perennial crop by biological means, has helped in mitigating global warming and climatic fluctuations. In our study, we selected Tenera hybrids in three oil palm plantations of major oil palm growing regions of Theni and Thanjavur districts of Tamil Nadu, India during the year 2019. Carbon sequestration potential was assessed by the standard procedures and methodology. The present study revealed that carbon sequestration was higher in trunks, which was found to be 2.57 t C/ha (tons of carbon per hectare) in 4 years, 22.33 t C/ha in 8 years and 59.79 t C/ha in 15 years with respect to the age of plantation. The roots sequestered carbon for about 0.67 t C/ha in 4 years, 5.80 t C/ha in 8 years and 15.54 t C/ha in 15 years old plantations and the fronds sequesters about 1.41 t C/ha in 4 years, 2.44 t C/ha in 8 years and 3.01 t C/ha in 15 years old oil palm plantations. The findings evidenced that the biomass production in oil palm increased proportionally with different age group of oil palm. This findings established the importance of oil palm plantation for carbon sequestration to reduce natural as well as anthropogenic sources for climatic fluctuations.