Water Availability Controls the Biomass Increment of Melia dubia in South India

Mundre N Ramesha,Shekhargouda L Patil,Dirk Hölscher,Dietrich Hertel,Bernhard Schuldt,Roman M Link,Alexander Röll

doi:10.3390/f12121675

Mundre N Ramesha, Shekhargouda L Patil + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f12121675

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Journal: Forests	Publication Date: Nov 30, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Göttingen, University of Würzburg

Abstract

Farmland tree cultivation is considered an important option for enhancing wood production. In South India, the native leaf-deciduous tree species Melia dubia is popular for short-rotation plantations. Across a rainfall gradient from 420 to 2170 mm year–1, we studied 186 farmland woodlots between one and nine years in age. The objectives were to identify the main factors controlling aboveground biomass (AGB) and growth rates. A power-law growth model predicts an average stand-level AGB of 93.8 Mg ha–1 for nine-year-old woodlots. The resulting average annual AGB increment over the length of the rotation cycle is 10.4 Mg ha–1 year–1, which falls within the range reported for other tropical tree plantations. When expressing the parameters of the growth model as functions of management, climate and soil variables, it explains 65% of the variance in AGB. The results indicate that water availability is the main driver of the growth of M. dubia. Compared to the effects of water availability, the effects of soil nutrients are 26% to 60% smaller. We conclude that because of its high biomass accumulation rates in farm forestry, M. dubia is a promising candidate for short-rotation plantations in South India and beyond.

Highlights

Increasing landscape tree cover and carbon sequestration is considered a cost-effective climate change mitigation tool
South Indian farms, we studied 186 M. dubia farmland woodlots between one and nine years in age and covering a rainfall gradient from 420 to 2170 mm year−1
We conclude that due to its rapid growth rates in farmland forestry, M. dubia is a species with considerable potential for short-rotation plantations in South India and beyond

Summary

Introduction

Increasing landscape tree cover and carbon sequestration is considered a cost-effective climate change mitigation tool. While natural secondary succession of native forest tree species is likely the preferred option from an ecological point of view, agroforests, farm woodlots and tree plantations are land-use options that can balance ecological and socioeconomic needs [1,2,3,4]. They are considered important regarding the extent and further expansion of global drylands [5,6,7]. Its economic growth and increasing population are associated with an increasing demand for wood and wood-based products [11,12]

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