Carbon density and C‐sequestration of tree plantation ecosystems in the mid‐hills of the NW‐Himalayas: Implications for climate change mitigation

Abstract

In the current era of global warming, the Himalayan forests are under tremendous pressure due to intensified anthropogenic activity, resulting in the loss of forest diversity. However, the potential of carbon (C) sinks for increasing carbon storage and/or sequestration is still uncertain. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to examine the C-sequestration and mitigation potential of eight different tree plantations, namely: Pinus roxburghii, Quercus leucotrichophora, Acacia mollissima, Acacia catechu, Alnus nitida, Albizia procera, Ulmus villosa, and Eucalyptus tereticornis in the mid-hills of the Indian Himalayas. The soil samples used in our study (humus, 0-20cm, 20-40cm, and 40-100 cm) were used to determine the soil and ecosystem Cdensity. The analysis revealed that the maximum tree biomass (300.19 Mg ha À1 ), vegetation biomass (305.43 Mg ha À1 ), vegetation carbon (153.59 Mg ha À1 ), and total ecosystem C density (369.93 Mg ha À1 ) occurred under U. villosa plantation. Similarly, P. roxburghii plantations had the maximum detritus C-density (7.25 Mg ha À1 ), whereas A. nitida (224.71 Mg ha À1 ) had the maximum soil C-density. The highest Csequestration was recorded under U. villosa (183.0 Mg ha À1 ). A significantly higher and lower rate of C-sequestration and CO 2 mitigation was observed in Ulmus villosa (5.9 and 21.64 Mg ha À1 yr À1 ) and Eucalyptus tereticornis (3.9 and 14.3 Mg ha À1 yr À1 ).Our study found that indigenous tree species such as U. villosa, A. procera, A. nitida, and Q. leucotrichophora should be encouraged for afforestation on degraded lands to support climate change mitigation strategies in the sub-temperate forest ecosystem.

Global sustainable land use and management: Illustrating the linkage between carbon sink and ecological engineering

“…Meanwhile, analysis methods included multiple innovation model combinations as well as meta‐analysis. SD: system dynamics, GIS: geographic information systems, RF Model: random forest model, DNDC Model: denitrification‐decomposition (DNDC) model (Bhardwaj et al, 2022; Chen et al, 2022; Feng et al, 2023, Hashimi et al, 2022; He et al, 2022; Jia et al, 2023; Liu et al, 2022; Ravisankar et al, 2022; Wang et al, 2022, 2023; Xu et al, 2022; Yang et al, 2022, Zhang et al, 2022, 2023). [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]…”

“…Moreover, the effects of different ecological restoration projects on carbon sinks should be clarified. The indigenous tree species in the mid‐hills of northwest Himalayas have better carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation capabilities (Bhardwaj et al, 2022). Similarly, the natural vegetation saxaul ( Haloxylon ammodendron ) alleviates desertification better than the artificially planted matrimony vine ( Lycium barbarum L.) in desert ecosystems (Yang et al, 2022).…”

“…Currently, grasslands are severely degrading due to climate fluctuations and F I G U R E 1 Research regions of the Special Issue (SI). The research regions of this SI ranged from basin scale to continental scale, and included forest, grassland, saline-alkali land, desert land, and other fragile ecosystem types(Bhardwaj et al, 2022;Chen et al, 2022;Feng et al, 2023;Hashimi et al, 2022;He et al, 2022;Jia et al, 2023;Liu et al, 2022;Ravisankar et al, 2022;Wang et al, 2022. Xu et al, 2022Yang et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022Zhang et al, , 2023.…”

The Carbon Storage of Reforestation Plantings on Degraded Lands of the Red Soil Region, Jiangxi Province, China

“…The current global climate crisis is becoming increasingly serious in terms of frequency and intensity, and its impact is become more widespread. According to the IPCC (2019), the global average temperature has increased by 1.53 • C since preindustrial times [1]. Increased CO 2 emissions from land use, land cover change, and human activities account for approximately 66% of the global warming effect and are the main cause of global warming [2].…”

Soil organic carbon estimation along an altitudinal gradient of chir pine forests in the Garhwal Himalaya, India: A field inventory to remote sensing approach

“…The estimation of SOC through field inventory at a landscape level is quite complex, labour-intensive, time-consuming and expensive. Traditionally SOC is measured in a laboratory by analysing field soil samples (Bhardwaj et al, 2022;Tao et al, 2007). However, obtaining continuous information about the SOC for an area is not possible based on discrete sampling of soil (Zhang et al, 2019).…”