To estimation biomass and carbon storage capacity of bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea and Dendrocalamus strictus) in Korba, Bilaspur and Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh

Introduction

Bamboos are a group of woody perennials, evergreen to deciduous plants that are unique in their distribution, growth, morphogenesis, taxonomy, reproduction, ecology, and diversity. They are members of the grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae and tribe Bamboo is used in a variety of applications, including fodder, pulp, timber, construction, charcoal, edible shoots, and cottage industries. Bamboos have enormous potential as a substitute. It can be used for decorative and shuttering plywood, a variety of board products such as wafer board, stripboard, laminated boards, roofing sheets; earthquake-resistant and long-lasting conventional housing and buildings, furniture, fuel-wood, charcoal and briquettes, active carbon, matchsticks, agarbattis, toothpicks, skewer sticks, and so on. Bamboos have socio-economic and ecological value, and their management can provide benefits on a local, national, and global scale by providing livelihood, economic, and environmental security to millions of rural people. Bamboos are useful for soil erosion control, stream bank protection, embankment and drainage channel reinforcement, and other applications. Bamboos help to maintain and improve soil physical, chemical, and biological properties due to their high biomass accumulation and abundant litterfall (Christanty et al. 1996) [3] . Bamboo has a high carbon sequestration capacity due to its rapid biomass accumulation and effective fixation of solar energy and carbon dioxide. Bamboo is estimated to account for one-quarter of the biomass in tropical regions and onefifth in subtropical regions. Bamboo can absorb up to 40 tonnes of CO 2 per acre. It is estimated that a 1,000 sq. ft. bamboo living green home contains more than 15 tonnes of CO 2 locked up (sequestered) within its fibres. Because of its numerous essential uses, it has earned the moniker "Green Gold," "Poor Man's Timber," "Bamboo, Friend of the People," and "Cradle to Coffin Timber" (Tewari et al. 2019) [24] .

Materials and Methods

The study employed a comparative analysis to estimate the carbon storage capacity of two bamboo species, Bambusa arundinacea and Dendrocalamus strictus, across different locations (Bilaspur, Raigarh, and Korba) over the years 2021-22 and 2022-23. Field data were collected on various parameters, including the number of culms per hectare, total carbon in soil (inorganic), and total carbon stock density. Biomass data were recorded for different components such as culms, branches, and leaves at two distinct clump ages, 5 and 20 years old plant. Linear regression equations were developed to estimate dry biomass from fresh biomass, providing a framework for rapid carbon stock estimation in bamboo stands. Statistical tools like RBD (Randomized Block Design) and paired t-tests were used to validate the accuracy of the regression models, ensuring that the observed and estimated dry biomass values were closely aligned. The methodology involved detailed sampling and data collection from each bamboo plantation site, with three repetitions for each observation to ensure accuracy. Biomass was calculated for both fresh and dry weights of bamboo components, and the differences across clump ages were analyzed. The data from both species and locations were compiled to compare the carbon storage capacity, revealing trends in biomass accumulation and carbon stock density over time. The study's results were presented in tables that summarize the differences between the species, locations, and years, highlighting the role of bamboo age in carbon storage.

Result

The data regarding to estimate biomass and carbon storage capacity of Bamboo species viz., (Bambusa arundinacea and Dendrocalamus strictus) was presented in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 4 and Table 5.

Among the table 1, The C (number of culms ha -1 ) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (1570), which was followed by the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (1324) and Dendrocalamus strictus at Bilaspur (1250). The significantly lowest C (number of culms ha -1 ) in the Dendrocalamus strictus at Raigarh (895) in the year 2021-22. The C (number of culms ha -1 ) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (1607), which was followed by the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (1361) and Dendrocalamus strictus at Bilaspur (1287). The significantly lowest C (number of culms ha -1 ) in the Dendrocalamus strictus at Raigarh (932) in the year 2022-23. The C (number of culms ha -1 ) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (1588.50), which was followed by the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (1342.50) and Dendrocalamus strictus at Bilaspur (1288.50). The significantly lowest C (number of culms ha -1 ) in the Dendrocalamus strictus at Raigarh (913.50) in the pooled mean. The results obtained in the present study is in accordance with the results of Sharma, R., Pradhan, L., Kumari, M., & Bhattacharya, P. (2020) [21] .

The data display in table 2, Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Korba (12.54 t/ha), which was at par with the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (11.36 t/ha) and Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (11.54 t/ha). The significantly lowest Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) at Dendrocalamus strictus at Raigarh (7.97 t/ha) in the year 2021-22.The data display that Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Korba (16.45 t/ha), which was followed by the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (11.87 t/ha) and Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (11.98 t/ha). The significantly lowest Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) at Dendrocalamus strictus at Bilaspur (10.25 t/ha) in the year 2022-23. The data display that Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) was found significantly highest in the Bambusa arundinacea at Korba (14.50 t/ha), which was followed by the Bambusa arundinacea at Raigarh (11.62 t/ha) and Bambusa arundinacea at Bilaspur (11.76 t/ha). The significantly lowest Total carbon of soil (inorganic) (t/ha) at Dendrocalamus strictus at Raigarh (9.59 t/ha) in the pooled mean. The results obtained in the present study are supported by the works of Yen, T. M., & Lee, J. S. (2011) [23] . [15] .

Total carbon

Among the table 4, The pooled mean data for biomass stock in Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa arundinacea plantations for 2021-22 and 2022-23 reveals a significant increase in biomass with clump age. For 5-year-old clumps, the fresh weight biomass is 24.13±1.31 t ha -1 for culms and 16.96±0.92 t ha -1 for branches and leaves, totaling 41.09±2.23 t ha -1 , while the dry biomass is 17.83±0.97 t ha -1 for culms and 14.81±0.80 t ha -1 for branches and leaves, amounting to 32.64±1.77 t ha -1 . In contrast, 20-year-old clumps show a notable increase with fresh weight biomass of 84.74±3.21 t ha -1 for culms and 26.44±1.00 t ha -1 for branches and leaves, totaling 111.17±4.21 t ha -1 . The dry biomass at this age is 33.52±1.27 t ha -1 for culms and 8.97±0.34 t ha -1 for branches and leaves, summing to 42.49±1.61 t ha -1 . These results underline the considerable growth in both fresh and dry biomass as clump age increases, with a marked accumulation in culms. The pooled mean data for 2021-22 and 2022-23 on equations and validation statistics for estimating dry biomass (kg culm -1 ) of different components of Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa arundinacea. Linear regression equations of the form, Y = a + bX were fitted, where Y is the dry biomass and X is the fresh biomass. The R-square values ranged from 0.013 to 0.24 indicating a good fit of the linear regression models. The observed and estimated mean dry biomass values were very close for different components as evident from the non-significant p-values in paired t-test. The study thus developed and validated linear regression models that can be effectively used to estimate dry biomass from fresh biomass measurements for different culm components of D. strictus and B. arundinacea bamboo. This will help in rapid estimation of carbon stocks in bamboo stands. This study is in accordance with the results of Zemek, O. J. (2009) [25] and Kumar, B. M., Rajesh, G., & Sudheesh, K. G. ( 2006) [11] .

The table 5 shows the pooled mean data for biomass stock (tonnes per hectare) in different culm components of Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa arundinacea plantation at two clump ages -5 years and 20 years. At 5 years, the fresh weight and dry biomass of culm, branch and leaf, and total was higher for both species. At 20 years, the fresh weight and dry biomass of culm increased significantly due to the increase in number and thickness of culms with age. However, the fresh weight and dry biomass of branch and leaf decreased at 20 years compared to 5 years, which could be due to senescence and shedding of branches and leaves as the culms become older and thicker. The results obtained in the present study is in accordance with the results of Zemek, O. J. (2009) [25] and Lasco, R. D., Pulhin, F. B., Visco, R. G., Racelis, D. A., Guillermo, I. Q., & Sales, R. F. (2000, February).

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