Carbon Sequestration Potential of Oil Palm under Irrigated and Rainfed Conditions

Terrestrial ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Plantations of trees and perennial crops like oil palm are an effective way of enhancing the buildup of the terrestrial carbon pool. The aim of this study is to quantify the potential of C sequestration in an adult oil palm plantations grown under irrigated and rainfed conditions in Andhra Pradesh. Total dry matter production in the systems was determined using non destructive sampling techniques and carbon contents estimated. The annual carbon sequestered by oil palm was 11.7 and 5.5 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ under irrigated and rainfed conditions, respectively for a 10-year-old plantation. The standing biomass of a ten year old oil palm plantation was of the order of 59.6 and 36.5 t ha⁻¹ under irrigated and rainfed conditions. The results will also be significant in designing environmental policies for the country to deal with sequestration of greenhouse gases.