Assessing the Potential of Elaeis guineensis Plantations for Carbon Sequestration and Fresh Fruit Bunch Yield in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Elaeis guineensis is one of the potential carbon sequestering perennial crop by biological means. It has helped in the mitigating global warming and climatic fluctuations. The main objective of our study is to evacuate the hidden potential treasure of oil palm in carbon sequestration and vegetable oil yield. In this study we selected Tenera hybrids oil palm plantations in Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu with standard management practices. It had been selected in the year 2019 and assessed for carbon sequestration potential and Fresh fruit bunch yield by non-destructive carbon stock assessment methods and standard estate practices for harvest. In our study the carbon sequestration is higher in trunks found to be 15.3 t C/ha (tons carbon per hectare) in 5 years and 26.6 t C/ha in 10 years while roots sequestered carbon for about 4.0 t C/ha in 5 years and 6.93 t C/ha in 10 years plantations. The fronds sequesters about 1.39 t C/ha in 5 years and 2.1 t C/ha in 10 years oil palm plantations while the fresh fruit bunch yield in 5 years and 10 years plantations were found to be 7.60 t/ha/year (tons per hectare per year) and 12.31 t/ha/year respectively. The present study evidenced that the biomass production and fresh fruit bunch yield in oil palm proportionally increases with the age group. This study holds that the higher biomass production which increases carbon sequestration and yields in oil palm helps in altering of the microclimate and to increase the economic benefits of farming communities.