Mycorrhizal biomass in eucalypt plantation: share in carbon sequestration

Professorial Chair Lecture

United Coconut Planters Bank Professorial Lecture

Date

6-23-2005

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the greenhouse gasses that have become a global concern. The clean development mechanism considers reforestation and afforestation projects to reduce greenhouse gasses and mitigate global climate change. The Philippines has been at the forefront of climate change resolve through rehabilitation and reforestation of denuded areas. Eucalyptus species are often used in the region for industrial plantations and reforestation. This experiment investigated the potential of Eucalyptus urophylla and mycorrhizal fungi for sequestering carbon dioxide. Mycorrhizal fungi have a symbiotic relationship with Eucalyptus species, leading to improved plant growth adaptation and reproduction.

Biomass and carbon data for two to three year old E. urophylla were compared with values from a seven year old plantation. Biomass was calculated by randomly measuring the height and diameter of trees, and comparing the values to actual measurements obtained during destructive sampling of trees. This gave an estimate of 157 tons total biomass across a hectare, with 65-80% above ground, and carbon stocks ranging from 2.08 to 75.13 tons per hectare. Fruiting bodies of mycorrhizal fungi had a production rate of upto 4kg per hectare and carbon stocks of up to 218kg per hectare hyphal biomass below ground.

This showed that a considerable amount of carbon pool is stocked in the above and below ground ecosystems of eucalypt plantations. The size of these stocks is directly related to the age of the trees. However, management needs to consider silvicultural practices from nursery to harvesting, which affect the carbon the carbon stocks. A suggested strategy to combat carbon stock depletion is inter-planting an indigenous species (Dipterocarps) with the Eucalypts, which would replace the amount of carbon that will be stored in harvested crops.

Managers should also be aware that natural forests have larger carbon pools than plantations. Therefore conservation and protection of the remaining virgin forests should be strictly implemented. Also, the establishment of industrial tree plantations in denuded areas should be pursued over selective logging of the remaining secondary growth forests. This would help maintain and improve carbon stocks and mitigate climate change in the country.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Human Ecology (CHE)

Language

English

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS