1. CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL OF RED SANDER (PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS) PLANTATIONS UNDER DIFFERENT AGES IN VELLORE AND THIRUVALLUR DISTRICTS OF TAMIL NADU by SEWA SINGH

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2020 at Vellore and Thiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu that lies between 12°15’ and 13° 15’ of the northern latitude and 78° 20’ and 79° 15’ of the eastern longitude. The soil was red loamy soil and sandy Loamy with the pH of 6.3 to 8.2 and electrical conductivity with 0.08 to 0.80 dS m^-1. Redsanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) plantation at different age groups, viz., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 were selected for estimation of carbon sequestration potential.  Totally 16 sample plots with the plot size of 0.1 ha (31.62 m X 31.62 m) were laid out in 6 different age group of Redsanders plantation for assessing the biometric attributes, volume, biomass and biomass carbon through Non-destructive sampling method. Among the 6 age group, 60-year-old exhibited the maximum biomass (1186.30 kg/tree and 628.74 tonnes/hectare) and biomass carbon content (557.56 kg. /tree and 295.51 tonnes/hectare) followed by 50-year-old plantation and minimum was recorded in 10-year-old Red Sanders plantation. Due to its high density content, Redsanders tree is considered as suitable for high carbon storage from atmosphere through photosynthesis mechanism. Eventhough, it’s a tree with high value utility and commercial importance, it can also have the maximum potential in carbon sequestration.