Carbon Sequestration in Broad Leaved Forests of Mid-Hills of Nepal: A Case Study from Palpa District

Abstract

This study was carried out to quantify total carbon sequestration in two broad leaved forests (Shorea and Schima-Castanopsis forests) of Palpa district. The inventory for estimating above and below ground biomass of forest was carried out using stratified random sampling. Biomass was calculated using allometric models. Soil samples were taken from soil profile upto 1 m depth for deep soil and up to bed rock for shallow soils at the interval of 20 cm. Walkey and Black method were applied for measuring soil organic carbon. Total biomass carbon in Shorea and Schima-Castanopsis forest was found 101.66 and 44.43 t ha-1 respectively. Soil carbon sequestration in Schima-Castanopsis and Shorea forest was found 130.76 and 126.07 t ha-1 respectively. Total carbon sequestration in Shorea forest was found 1.29 times higher than Schima-Castanopsis forest. The study found that forest types play an important role on total carbon sequestration.

Key Words: Carbon sequestration, Shorea forest, Schima-Castanopsis forest, Biomass carbon, Soil carbon

DOI: 10.3126/init.v3i0.2424

The Initiation Vol.3 2009 p.20-29