Growth, Biomass and Carbon Storage of Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

Study on the growth, biomass and carbon storage in Jatropha curcas L. was carried out at the National Corn and Sorghum Research Center, Nakhon Ratchasima province.  The objective was to study the growth and carbon storage in the aboveground biomass of four varieties of 5-year-old J. curcas L. namely, Kamphaeng Saen, KUBP16, KUBP 20 and KUBP74.  A randomized complete block design was used with 3×2 m spacing.  Tree dimensions (diameter at ground level, diameter at breast height and total height) were measured for aboveground biomass estimation using an allometric equation.  The carbon concentration in each constituent part of J. curcas L. was analyzed using the Dumus or dry combustion method.

The results showed that Kamphaeng Saen had the largest diameter at ground level, diameter at breast height and height.  KUBP20 had the greatest stem biomass while KUBP74 had the greatest branch and leaf biomass.  KUBP74 had the greatest total biomass followed by KUBP16, KUBP20, and Kamphaeng Saen with values of 17.76, 16.29, 15.98, and 15.96 kg tree^-1, respectively.  The carbon concentration in the biomass was not significantly different (p>0.05) either between varieties or between the tree parts.  However, KUBP74 had more carbon storage in the total biomass than KUBP16, KUBP20, and Kamphaeng Saen with values of 7.88, 7.27, 7.15, and 7.12 kg C tree^-1, respectively.  Nevertheless, the differences in the carbon storage were due to differences in the biomass rather than due to the carbon concentration in each tree part of J. curcas L.

Keywords: biomass, carbon storage, Jatropha curcas L.