Carbon Sequestration Potential of Roadside Trees in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Trees along roadside play an important role in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Vehicular pollution is not only responsible for environmental degradation but also cause various health issues to inhabitants resides in the vicinity of such roads.  Present study was conducted to observe the role of trees grown along roadside and their underneath soil are efficient in carbon storage at four different sites of Multan city, Punjab, Pakistan. Four sites covering whole Multan city were chosen namely Khaniwal road (S1); Nangshah road (S2); Shujaabad road (S3). and Boson road (S4). The most abundant of the tree species viz-a-viz, Dalbergia sissoo, Eucalyptus camadulensis and Vachellia nilotica were sampled having 10 trees across 04 sites and measured for their diameter and height, whereas, underneath each tree soil samples were extracted at two depths viz., (0-20) (20-40) were recorded during the field visit. The study calculated biomass using allometric equations while soil organic carbon and organic carbon was assessed using Walkely Black method. Although species have different height and diameter, hence, their sequestration rate was also different. Data revealed that in all four sites the carbon sequestration rate remained higher in E. camaldulensis for biomass (Above ground, Belowground and total biomass), carbon and soil organic carbon estimation. as compared to D.sissoo and V. nilotica at all four sites. This research concluded that E. camaldulensis species may be be planted along the roadside due to its higher carbon sequestration rate in maintaining health roadside ecosystem.