Growth, Biomass Production and CO2 Sequestration of Some Important Multipurpose Trees under Rainfed Condition

An experiment was conducted at Agroforestry Research Station, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, India, The experiment was designed in randomized block design with four replications on 30 years old agroforestry tree plantation which consisted of four multipurpose tree species (MPTs) viz., Azadirachta indica, Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora and Acacia tortolis. Significantly the highest plant height (9.29 m), CD (29.16 cm) and DBH (31.36 cm) was recorded under Azadirachta indica, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia tortolis, respectively, whereas significantly the highest tree canopy N-S (7.18 m) and E-W (7.32 m) was also noted under Acacia tortolis. Above ground green and dry biomass and below ground green and dry biomass of different tree species did not differed significantly. The highest C content (41.55 per cent) and CO2 sequestration (1847.11 kg/tree and 2052.35 t/ha) was recorded under Prosopis juliflora tree species. The descending order of carbon content in different tree species was Prosopis juliflora > Azadirachta indica > Prosopis cineraria > Acacia tortolis. Maximum SOC (0.544 Mg/m3) was noted under Acacia tortolis which was 242.14 per cent higher over control.