Biomass Partitioning and Ecosystem Carbon Stocks of Populus deltoides and Leucaena leucocephala under Different High-Density Planting Spacings From North-Western India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/Keywords:
Agroforestry, Biomass accumulation, Carbon sequestration, Carbon stock, Climate change mitigation, Leucaena leucocephala, Planting spacing, Populus deltoidesAbstract
Agroforestry systems play a pivotal role in enhancing biomass production and carbon sequestration, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and sustainable land management. The present study evaluated biomass accumulation and carbon stock of 8-year-old Populus deltoides and Leucaena leucocephala plantations established in 2013 under four high-density planting spacings (3.0 × 1.0, 3.0 × 1.5, 3.0 × 2.0, and 3.0 × 2.5 m), using a split-plot design with three replications during 2021. Results revealed that aboveground biomass (AGB) was significantly higher in Leucaena (225.2 t ha⁻¹) than Populus (201.1 t ha⁻¹), whereas belowground biomass (BGB) was 73.3% greater in Leucaena (63.14 t ha⁻¹). Carbon concentration ranged from 43.28–49.29% among aboveground components and 44.48–46.25% among belowground components, with the highest values consistently observed in the bole and stump roots, respectively. Total aboveground carbon stock was significantly higher in Leucaena (109.7 t ha⁻¹) than Populus (97.91 t ha⁻¹), while belowground carbon stock was numerically greater in Leucaena (20.66 t ha⁻¹). Wider planting spacing (3.0 × 2.5 m) significantly enhanced biomass production and vegetation carbon stock, recording the highest total biomass (338.7 t ha⁻¹), vegetation carbon stock (165.9 t ha⁻¹), and total ecosystem carbon stock (217.6 t ha⁻¹). Conversely, soil carbon stock declined with increasing spacing and was highest under the closest spacing (3.0 × 1.0 m). Overall, under the 8-year-old plantation conditions evaluated in the present study, Leucaena demonstrated greater biomass production and carbon sequestration potential than Populus, while wider spacing promoted greater vegetation carbon accumulation. These findings highlight the importance of appropriate species selection and planting geometry for maximizing carbon sequestration and improving the climate change mitigation potential of high-density agroforestry systems.
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