Biomass and Carbon Storage Pattern in an Age Series of Teak Plantation in Dry Tropics

The present study was conducted to investigate the biomass and carbon storage pattern in an age series of teak plantation in tropical environment at Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh during the year 2011–2012. The study was conducted in three different age of plantation (19 years, 23 years and 33 years old) in tropical environment. Forest structure was determined using phytosociological observations. Biomass for each plantation site was estimated using allometric equations based on the relationship between girth of tree and dry weight of the components. The carbon storage for the vegetation components was computed as the sum of the products obtained by multiplying dry weights of components with their mean carbon concentrations. A total of 13 species of 9 families were encountered. Tree stand density varied from 1010–1380 stems ha⁻¹ with basal area ranging from 23.54 to 44.75 m² ha⁻¹. Species diversity index varied between 0.24 for 19 years old teak plantation to 1.07 for 33 years old teak plantation. The total biomass recorded in age series of teak plantation was between 119.37 t ha⁻¹ and 235.14 t ha⁻¹, and it was highest in 33 years old teak plantation followed by 23 years old teak plantation and lowest in 19 years old teak plantation. The total above ground biomass in different age of plantation ranged from 99.08 to 197.88 t ha⁻¹. The below ground biomass in different plantation sites varied from 20.29 to 37.26 t ha ⁻¹. The total tree biomass increased with age of the plantation. The total carbon (t ha⁻¹) recorded among the different age of plantation sites was maximum in 33 years old teak plantation (101.40) followed by 23 years old teak plantation (90.66) and 19 years old teak plantation (51.32). The higher proportion of above ground carbon was allocated in bole followed by branch and root in different age of plantation. The above ground carbon in different age of plantation ranged between 44.07 to 88.09 t ha⁻¹. The below ground carbon in different plantation varied from 7.25 to 13.31 t ha⁻¹. From these studies, it is evident that the biomass and carbon increased steadily with respect to the increase in the age, dbh and height of the plantation as the biomass is generally associated with the age and size of the trees. Biomass of the individual tree components also increased with the increase in the age of the plantation.