Evaluation of various Tree species Under different Land use systems for Higher Carbon Sequestration

Various trees and their components were analysed for carbon content. Leaves (44.37%) of all trees contained maximum carbon than that of twigs (42.69%) and wood portions (41.2%). Among the different tree species studied, Albizia lebbeck contained higher carbon content (45.84%) followed by Luecaena leucocephala (44.48%) and Eucalyptus comaldulensis (43.48%). Higher sequestered carbon per unit quantity of biomass was recorded in Albizia followed by Luecaena and Eucalyptus, but biomass, net primary productivity (NPP) and carbon sequestration were highest in Luecaena (204.6 t ha⁻¹; 15.74 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 7.0 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively) followed by Eucalyptus (160.2 t ha^−1; 12.32 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 5.35 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively) and Albizia (58.75 t ha⁻¹; 6.52 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and 2.98 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). Incubation studies indicated that the decomposition rate (CO₂ release) was highest Albizia lebbeck, Luecaena leucocephala and Acacia albida, while lowest was associated with Eucalyptus comaldulensis irrespective of periods of incubation and quantity of substrate addition and decomposition rate was superior when substrate incorporation was higher.