Carbon Sequestration Potential of Melia Dubia Progenies and Plantations with Varied Spatial Geometries at Different Age Gradations in South Gujarat
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ija.2026.28.01.07Keywords:
Biomass productivity, Climate change mitigation, Carbon sequestration, Co2 equivalentAbstract
We evaluated Melia dubia for carbon sequestration potential under two different studies. First studies comprised of 17 open pollinated progenies planted at 3×3 m and the second one was plantations of same species at 2×2, 3×2, 3×3 and 4×2 m spatial geometries under randomized block design. The progeny evaluation study revealed that at the age of 5 years, progeny GJ09 produced maximum biomass (95.61 t/ha) with average maximum productivity of 19.12 t/ha/year, carbon stocks and carbon sequestration to tune of 48.76 t/ha and 178.95 t/ha, respectively. Further, progeny GJ09 showed carbon stock and carbon sequestration rate of 9.75 t/ha/year and 35.79 t/ha/year, respectively. The spatial geometry evaluation studies deduced that there was significant variation in biomass productivity, carbon stock and carbon sequestration among individuals under different spatial geometries. Although, at the age of 5-years, the individual tree biomass, carbon stock and carbon sequestration was maximum under 4×2 m spacing. However, at the 5-years of age, owing to the maximum tree per hectare 2×2 m spatial configuration provided highest biomass (20.29 t/ha/year), carbon stocks (10.35 t/ha/year) and carbon sequestration potential (24.94 t/ha/year). These studies revealed that M. dubia being fast growing species has great potential for carbon sequestration. The progenies with higher sequestration rate can be utilized for further planation programmes.
Downloads
References
Akers, M. K., Kane, M., Zhao, D., Teskey, R. O., & Daniels, R. F. (2013). Effects of planting density and cultural intensity on stand and crown attributes of mid-rotation loblolly pine plantations. Forest Ecology and Management, 310, 468–475.
Bhusara, J. B., Dobriyal, M. J., Thakur, N. S., Sondarva, R. L., & Prajapati, D. H. (2018). Growth and yield performance of green gram under Melia composita plantations. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 7(3), 1490–1494.
Bhusara, J. B., Thakur, N. S., & Hegde, H. T. (2016). Biological yield and carbon sequestration in prominent traditional agroforestry systems in Valsad District, Gujarat, India. Indian Journal of Ecology, 43(1), 318–320.
Cardoso, D. J., Lacerda, A. E. B., Rosot, M. A. D., Garrastazu, M. C., & Lima, R. T. (2013). Influence of spacing regimes on the development of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) in southern Brazil. Forest Ecology and Management, 310, 761–769.
Choudhury, B. U., Singh, N. R., Handa, A. K., Yadav, A., Anuragi, H., Uthappa, A. R., Kumar, D., Arunachalam, A., & Jinger, D. (2025). Root architecture and carbon sequestration potential of fast-growing agroforestry tree species in semi-arid Central India. Frontiers in Agronomy, 7, 1597122.
Dury, S. J., Polgalse, P. J., & Vercose, T. (2002). Greenhouse resource kit for private forest growers. Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Eliakimu, Z., Tumaini, R., Chamshama, S. A. O., Iddi, S., & Malimbwi, R. E. (2015). Effect of spacing regimes on growth, yield, and wood properties of Tectona grandis at Longuza Forest plantation, Tanzania. International Journal of Forestry Research, Article 469760, 1–6.
Food and Agriculture Organization. (2020). Global forest resources assessment 2020. FAO.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022). Climate change 2022: Mitigation of climate change. Cambridge University Press.
Jinger, D., Kakade, V. D., Kaushal, R., Bhatnagar, P. R., Ghosh, A., Mahawer, S. K., Dinesh, D., Singh, G., Akula, C., Venkatesh, P., Meena, V. S., Roy, T., Islam, S., Kumar, D., Uthappa, A. R., Chavan, S. B., Pradhan, A., Kumar, R., Kaledhonkar, M. J., & Madhu, M. (2025). Nature-based solutions for enhancing CO₂ sequestration and rehabilitating degraded lands through silvo-aromatic system and soil moisture conservation techniques. Journal of Environmental Management, 380, 124904.
Kumar, A., Shrivastava, S. P., Sharma, S., Dobhal, S., Rana, A., & Kumar, R. (2017). Development of high yielding varieties of Melia dubia Cav. (Syn. Melia composita Benth.). Indian Forester, 143(11), 1203–1206.
Kumar, M. B., Praveen, Verma, R., Hanumanthappa, D. C., Mahadeva Murthy, M., Madappa Savitha, Raghu, H. B., Rao, G. E., & Yogesh, T. C. (2024). Evaluation of carbon sequestration potential of different Melia germplasms in eastern dry zone of Karnataka, India. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology, 27(11), 1507–1518.
Lal, R. (2008). Carbon sequestration. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Luna, R. K., Thakur, N. S., & Kumar, V. (2014). Prediction models for biomass, volume, carbon stock and carbon dioxide removal for Eucalyptus hybrid plantations in Punjab. Journal of Tree Sciences, 33(1), 49–53.
Luna, R. K., Thakur, N. S., & Kumar, V. (2011). Growth performance of twelve new clones of poplar in Punjab, India. Indian Journal of Ecology, 38(Special Issue), 107–109.
Luna, R. K., Thakur, N. S., Gunaga, R. P., & Kumar, V. (2016). Biomass, carbon stock and carbon dioxide removal across different girth classes of eucalyptus species in Punjab: Implication for eucalyptus plantations. Journal of Tree Sciences, 35(1), 13–20.
Luna, R. K., Thakur, N. S., & Kumar, V. (2009). Performance of clonal Eucalyptus in different agro-climatic zones in Punjab, India. Indian Forester, 135(11), 1455–1464.
Malek, S. S., Thakur, N. S., Patel, V. R., Gunaga, R. P., Hegde, H. T., & Garde, Y. A. (2024). Provenance and seasonal variations in proximate and cell wall composition of Melia dubia leaf fodder from Satpura and Sahyadri mountain ranges, India. Agroforestry Systems, 98, 1859–1872.
Mohanty, S., Thakur, N. S., Gunaga, R. P., & Gajbhiye, N. (2019). Influence of Melia dubia Cav. spatial geometries on growth, herbage yield and essential oil constituents of Cymbopogon martinii (Roxb.) Wats. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants, 22(3), 630–648.
Panwar, P., Mahalingappa, D. G., Kaushal, R., Bhardwaj, D. R., Chakravarty, S., Shukla, G., Thakur, N. S., et al. (2022). Biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of different agroforestry systems in India: A critical review. Forests, 13, 1274.
Perez-Cordero, L. D., & Kanninen, M. (2003). Heartwood, sapwood and bark content, and wood dry density of young and mature teak (Tectona grandis) trees grown in Costa Rica. Silva Fennica, 37(1), 45–54.
Ravindranath, N. H., & Ostwald, M. (2008). Methods for estimating above-ground biomass. In N. H. Ravindranath & M. Ostwald (Eds.), Carbon inventory methods: Handbook for greenhouse gas inventory, carbon mitigation and roundwood production projects (Advances in Global Change Research, Vol. 29, pp. 113–147). Springer.
Ruchika, S. (2019). People are key to India’s carbon sequestration vision. India Climate Dialogue. India Climate Dialogue article
Sheoran, O. P. (n.d.). OPSTAT: Online statistical analysis tools. CCS Haryana Agricultural University. OPSTAT
Singh, B. K., Tomar, A., Khan, F. A., & Kumari, B. (2022). Growth, biomass and carbon sequestration of fast-growing tree species under high-density plantation in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Current Science, 122(5), 618–622.
Sinha, S. K., Chaudhari, P. A., Thakur, N. S., Jha, S. K., Patel, D. P., & Dhaka, R. K. (2019). Melia dubia Cav. wood properties vary with age and influence the pulp and paper quality. International Wood Products Journal, 10(4), 139–148.
Sukhadiya, M. L., Thakur, N. S., Patel, V. R., Gunaga, R. P., Kharadi, V. B., Tyagi, K. K., & Singh, S. (2021). Provenance variations in proximate principles, mineral matter, total phenols and phytochemicals of Melia dubia drupes: An unexplored alternate livestock feed stock. Journal of Forestry Research, 32(1), 119–131.
Thakur, N. S., Gupta, N. K., & Gupta, B. (2011). Biomass, carbon stocks and CO₂ removal by shrubs under different agroforestry systems in Western Himalaya. Indian Journal of Ecology, 38(1), 14–17.
Thakur, N. S., Hegde, H. T., Chauhan, R. S., Gunaga, R. P., Kumar, A., Bhusara, J. B., & Bhuva, D. C. (2023). Growth, productivity, and genetic variability of some Melia dubia Cav. open-pollinated families in Gujarat, India. Indian Journal of Ecology, 50(5), 1294–1301.
Thakur, N. S., Hegde, H. T., Chauhan, R. S., Gunaga, R. P., Kumar, A., Bhuva, D. C., & Sondarva, R. L. (2023b). Growth and productivity of Melia dubia Cav. under varying spatial configurations and age gradations. Indian Forester, 149(9), 922–929.
Thakur, N. S., Jilariya, D. J., Gunaga, R. P., & Singh, S. (2018). Positive allelospoly of Melia dubia Cav. spatial geometry improve quantitative and qualitative attributes of Aloe vera L. Industrial Crops and Products, 119, 162–171.
Thakur, N. S., Gunaga, R. P., Hegde, H. T., Chauhan, R. S., Bhuva, D. C., & Bhusara, J. B. (2021). Development of biomass and volume models of Melia dubia Cav. for early establishment. Indian Journal of Ecology, 48(3), 698–701.
United Nations Environment Programme. (2021). Forests and climate change. UNEP.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Carbon sequestration in forests.
Van Kooten, G. C. (1999, October 2–3). Economic dynamics of tree planting for carbon uptake on marginal agricultural lands [Conference paper]. Canadian Resources and Environmental Economics Study Group Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Zhang, J., Ritchie, M. W., Maguire, D. A., & Oliver, W. W. (2013). Thinning ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) stands reduces mortality while maintaining stand productivity. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 43, 311–320.
