FACTORS AFFECTING CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN TREES

Abstract

A study was conducted at Punjab Forestry Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan during the year 2009-10. The objective was to determine the factors that affect carbon sequestration in trees. For this purpose 773 trees of 75 species were selected from the arboretum of Punjab Forest Department at Changa Manga. On an average these trees were of 40 years age. The results revealed that standing above and below ground biomass of these trees possessing average diameter of 36 cm and height of 13 meter sequestered total 849554 kg (ca. 850 tons) of CO2. Among species, Eucalyptus botryoides tree with maximum diameter of 65.02 cm having 53 years age and 15.18 meter height sequestered maximum CO2 (3527 kg) while Robinia pseudoacacia with minimum diameter of 4.57 cm having 46 years age and 3.05 meter height sequestered only 6 kg CO2. Similarly, Pinus roxburgii tree with maximum height of 20.91 meter having 51 years age and 55.12 cm diameter stood second (3492 kg CO2). So diameter and height of trees had significant effect on CO2 sequestration. The data further showed that Eucalyptus melanopholia with maximum age of 56 years having 35.81 cm diameter and 14.9 meter height sequestered 1090 kg CO2 while Leueaena leucocephala with minimum age of 17 years having 23.11 cm diameter and 8.69 meter height sequestered 428 kg CO2 indicating non-significant effect of age on CO2 sequestration. The overall results showed that crop density proved to be non-significant while diameter proved to be the most significant factor affecting carbon sequestration in trees.