Carbon Sequestration Potential in Coconut based Cropping System: A Review

Abstract

Carbon sequestration plays a significant part in alleviating climate change by changing over climatic carbon as plant biomass and soil organic carbon. Since trees can hold greater carbon in their biomass than other plant types, perennial plantations have a vital function in mitigating the adversities in climate. Coconut is a perennial palm with a life time of around 50-60 years has the capability to store carbon for a long time, especially in the stem. Due to the increased availability of space and solar radiation reaching the understorey, the carbon sequestration capacity of coconut plantations can be considerably increased. As a result, intercropping or agroforestry in coconut lands is important not only for food and economic security but also for carbon sequestration. On an average carbon sequestration potential of coconut trees range between 37 kg tree-1 yr-1 (dwarf variety) up to 56 kg tree-1yr-1 (tall variety). After 20 years of establishment, monoculture coconut land can be transformed into perennial mixed cropping or agroforestry system that can sequester more carbon.