Growth and Carbon Storage Potential of Different Eucalyptus Clones Irrigated with Industrial Effluents

Author: Akshay F. Madiwalar, G.P.S. Dhillon, Ankita Bhardwaj, Ghazanfer Abbas, Raziya Banoo and Deepshikha Singh

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Abstract

Forest ecology plays a vital role in mitigating climate change challenges through carbon sequestration. Anthropogenic activities per se industrialisation are the major contributor to pollution by producing greenhouse gases and releasing effluents in the environment. However, plantations producing higher biomass under effluent irrigated conditions like Eucalyptus plantations are considered effective but the growth and carbon sequestration performance of diverse clones under effluent irrigated conditions is scarce. Therefore, in the present study, nine Eucalyptus clones were evaluated for growth traits and carbon storage potential under distillery effluent irrigated conditions. A clonal trial was planted at the liquor factory Macchana, near Sangat Mandi, Punjab with nine clones replicated four times following RCBD design. The data were recorded on survival, growth traits, biomass, and carbon storage was worked out. Survival percentage varied from 85-95% with non-significant differences among the clones. Significant variation in growth traits and carbon biomass was observed among Eucalyptus clones except for tree survival. Clone C-316 was found superior among all the clones for diameter, volume, carbon biomass and carbon sequestration, whereas clone PE-7 recorded maximum height. Clone PE-6 exhibited bottom rank for all growth traits except height. Carbon storage varied from 30.37 to 56.01 kg/tree. The investigation revealed that clones C-316, C-411 and PE-7 were found excellent for planting at effluent irrigated condition sites and for higher carbon sequestration.

Keywords

Biomass, carbon stock, Eucalyptus, clones, wood volume, distillery effluents

Conclusion

In general all clones adapted well and relatively higher survival was recorded by clone C-316, C-413 and C-411. The study revealed significant variation among Eucalyptus clones in all growth traits and biomass. Diameter ranged 9.98-13.01 cm, height varied from 14.05-17.16m and volume ranged 0.122-0.066 mm3. Clone C-316 recorded top rank for all traits except tree height, whereas clone PE-8 recorded maximum height and clone PE-6 found bottom rank. The relative ranking of clones for carbon sequestration was witnessed as C-316 > C-411 > C-413> PE-8 > PE-7 >C-2045 >PE11> PE-5 > PE-6. The present study revealed that clone C-316, C-411 and PE-7 found ideal and may be recommended for planting in effluent irrigated environments.

References

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How to cite this article

Akshay F. Madiwalar, G.P.S. Dhillon, Ankita Bhardwaj, Ghazanfer Abbas, Raziya Banoo and Deepshikha Singh (2023). Growth and Carbon Storage Potential of Different Eucalyptus Clones Irrigated with Industrial Effluents. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 1090-1096.