Growth and Carbon Storage Study in some Multipurpose Tree Species of Pondicherry Area

Growth rate and carbon storage in selected multipurpose trees were assessed to identify the fast growing trees and also those that store high carbon in their biomass. Among the plant parts studied, wood stored the higher carbon (56.38 mg/g), leaf stored the minimum (53.27 mg/g) and bark had a medium storage (54.06 mg/g). The fast growing tree with maximum increase in diameter and with maximum biomass production was Syzigium cumini (4.42 cm) and slow growing tree was Milletia pinnata (0.82 cm). Syzigium cumini stored maximum carbon (2.71 Kg/year) and biomass (4.9 Kg/year). Milletia pinnata stored the minimum carbon (0.67 Kg/year) and biomass (1.24 Kg/year). Parkia biglandulosa (3.97 cm), Khaya senegalensis (3.7 cm), Tabebuia rosea (3.5 cm), Peltaphorum pterocarpum (3.17 cm) are also considered as fast growing trees. Trees with fast growth rate and also those which store high biomass carbon are recommended for planting as avenue and ornamental trees as a step to mitigate atmospheric carbon concentration.