ROLE OF REFORESTATION ON CARBON SINK AT RE-AFFORESTATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING STATION, CHANGWAT NAKHON RATCHASIMA

Abstract

Study of carbon sink in plantations and the areas covered with Neyraudia reynaudiana and Imperata cylindrica was conducted at Re-afforestation Research and Training Station, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The objectives are to study the capacity of carbon sink in various patterns of land use. Three pits of soil samples were excavated from each plot. Each soil pit, four levels of soil samples: 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm from surface soil were collected for the analysis of carbon sink. Moreover, plant samples were collected to analyse the concentration of carbon and carbon sink in various plant species. The results revealed that plot of Acacia mangium showed the maximum amount of carbon sink in soil from surface through 30 cm depth with the amount of 53.242 ton/ha. The amount of carbon sink in the plots of N. reynaudiana, l. cylindrica, Xylia xylocarpa var, kerrii, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Pterocarpus macrocarpus, and Acacia auriculaeformis were 48.850, 45.927, 43.154, 42.280, 37.914, 37.581 and 37.272 ton/ha respectively. The carbon sink in plant was varied directly with its biomass. A. mangium also showed the maximum amount of carbon sink of 92.450 ton/ha, followed by A. auriculaeformis, E. camaldulensis, X. xylocarpa var, kerrii, D. cochinchinensis, P. macrocarpus, N. reynaudiana, and I. cylindrica with the amount of 56.737. 55.663, 41.887, 38.463, 24.719 and 4.290, 1.773 ton/ha. respectively. The highest carbon sink both in plant and soil was found in A. mangium with the amount of 145.692 ton/ha followed by A. auriculaeformis. E. camaldulensis, X. xylocurpa var, kerrii, D. cochinchinensis, P macrocarpus, N. reynaudiana, and I. cylindrica with the amount of 94 009, 93.557,85.041, 80,743, 62.300, 53.140, and 47.700 ton/ha respectively. Therefore, A. mangrum is one of the interesting trees species when carbon sink is considered.