Quantification of CO2 sequestration by Campus Trees

IJEP 42(7): 792-805 : Vol. 42 Issue. 7 (July 2022)

A.R. Arya1 and L. Resmi2*

1. Christian College, Department of Botany, Kattakada-695 572, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
2. University of Calicut, Department of Botany, Malappuram – 673 635, Kerala

Abstract

Enhancing carbon sequestration in biomass is presently considered one of the major strategies for reducing atmospheric CO2 concentration. The present study focused on the identification of tree species in the Christian college campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India which would efficiently respond to global warming due to the enhanced CO2 sequestration. The primary data were collected by non-destructive methods from a total of 253 individual trees. Tree height and girth at breast height were measured using a clinometer and measuring tape, respectively. Wood density of different tree species was obtained from an authentic database and parameters, namely above ground biomass (AGB), biomass ground biomass (BGB), total biomass, carbon store and the average amount of carbon dioxide sequestered by each tree were calculated. The highest total biomass was recorded by Tamarindus indica followed by Caesalpinia pulcherrima and Anacardium occidentale. The highest biomass in Caesalpinia pulcherrima can be attributed to the increased wood density in the species. Tamarindus indica exhibited the highest CO2 sequestration followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Anacardium occidentale, Delonix regia, Tectona grandis and Syzygium cumini. The amount of CO2 sequestered by Tamarindus indica was 70372.73 kg, followed by Artocarpus heterophyllus (25567.29 kg). Of the 30 families present on the campus, CO2 sequestration was highest in Fabaceae followed by moraceae. The major share of CO2 sequestration in the campus was provided by fabaceae, moraceae, myrtaceae and anacardiaceae. Present analysis revealed a perfect positive correlation between total plant biomass and CO2 sequestered with a correlation coefficient of 0.9721.

Keywords

CO2 sequestration, Global warming, wood density

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