Biomass and Carbon Allocation in Legume based Silvipastoral System in Degraded Wastelands of Tamil Nadu, India

In India, grazing based livestock husbandry continues to play an important role in rural economy of the country as around 50 per cent animals depend on grazing in forests and other grazing areas. In Tamil Nadu, grasslands/ rangelands are a major source of feed and fodder for the livestock. Silvipastoral systems give farmers access to fuel, fodder and timber, they can help decrease the strain on existing natural forests and play a significant part in carbon mitigation programs through carbon sequestration. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate biomass and carbon allocation in different components of legume based Silvipastoral System in Degraded Wastelands of Tamil Nadu, India

The present study was carried out in the existing fourteen year old silvipastoral system consisting of legume tree fodder Gliricidia sepium with an understorey of Stylosanthes scabra. All qualitative and quantitative traits of plants and soils were recorded at regular intervals using standard analytical procedures and methods. To assess biomass and carbon allocation in the existing silvipastoral system, a sample plot of 0.25 ha was allocated and within this sample plot, diameter of all trees at breast height was measured and recorded. The total system carbon sequestration potential (Mg C ha^-1) was computed using tree carbon, crop carbon and soil carbon.

Studies on the allocation of biomass and carbon in Gliricidia sepium based silvipastoral system in Degraded wastelands of Tamil Nadu, India have revealed that the total carbon in fourteen year old Gliricidia sepium was calculated as 46.74 t C ha^-1. From the study, it was visible that average annual increase in carbon sequestration potential of silvipasture in degraded lands was 3.94 t ha^-1. Gliricidia sepium with an understorey of Stylosanthes scabra based silvipastoral system exhibited significant carbon accumulation, which serves as an extra carbon sink in the area.