Carbon sequestration and land rehabilitation through Jatropha curcas (L.) plantation in degraded lands

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 161; pp. 112 - 120
• Main Authors: Wani, Suhas P., Chander, Girish, Sahrawat, K.L., Srinivasa Rao, Ch, Raghvendra, G., Susanna, P., Pavani, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 15.10.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; belowground biomass; biodiesel; Biofuel; Biological and medical sciences; boron; carbon; Carbon sequestration; Degraded lands; ecosystem services; fossil fuels; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; Jatropha; Jatropha curcas; Land rehabilitation; land restoration; leaves; microbial biomass; nitrogen; Nutrient recycling; nutrients; oilseed cakes; phosphorus; plantations; population growth; potassium; roots; soil surface layers; soil water potential; sulfur; Use of agricultural and forest wastes. Biomass use, bioconversion; water holding capacity; zinc; Land rehabilitation; Biofuel; Degraded lands; Carbon sequestration; Nutrient recycling; Jatropha; Plantations; Land reclamation; Ecology; Ecological damage; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Euphorbiaceae; Nutrient; Spermatophyta; Recycling; Oil plant (vegetal)
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2012.07.028

► Jatropha biodiesel plant can be successfully grown to rehabilitate degraded lands. ► A 3–5-year Jatropha added to soil 1450kgCha−1year−1 and in fuel 230kgCha−1year−1. ► Added biomass each year recycled 85.5kg N, 7.67kg P, 43.9kg K and other nutrients. ► A 4-year plantation sequestered 2500kgCha−1 in soil and 5100kgCha−1 in biomass. ► Jatropha improved microbial activity, available nutrients and water holding in soil. The effects of growing Jatropha in on-farm and on-station degraded lands were evaluated on carbon (C) sequestration and soil properties. Jatropha accumulated and added to soil significant amounts of C (305kgha−1year−1) from the year one itself. Overall, a 3–5-year old plantation added per year around 4000kg plant biomass equivalent to 1450kgCha−1 – 800kg C through leaves, 150kg C through pruned twigs, and 495kg C as deoiled Jatropha cake. Biodiesel C replacement in the fossil fuel was 230kgha−1. Besides adding biomass to the soil, and C replacement in fossil fuel; the standing Jatropha rendered ecosystem service by fixing 5100–6100kgha−1C as the aboveground plus belowground biomass. Carbon additions by Jatropha during 4 years increased C content in the degraded surface soil layer by 19%, resulting in about 2500kgha−1C sequestered. Huge C additions and live root activity under Jatropha increased microbial population, respiration rate and microbial biomass C and N in soil. Along with C additions, 4000kgha−1year−1 plant biomass recycled into the soil 85.5kg nitrogen, 7.67kg phosphorus, 43.9kg potassium, 5.20kg sulphur, 0.11kg boron, 0.12kg zinc and other nutrients. The C additions improved water holding capacity of the soil under Jatropha as compared with the adjacent control soil which increased by 35% at 30kPa and 21% at 1500kPa soil water potential.