Table Of ContentRUBBER PLANTATIONS AND
CARBON MANAGEMENT
RUBBER PLANTATIONS AND
CARBON MANAGEMENT
Arun Jyoti Nath, PhD
Biplab Brahma, PhD
Ashesh Kumar Das, PhD
Apple Academic Press Inc. Apple Academic Press Inc.
3333 Mistwell Crescent 1265 Goldenrod Circle NE
Oakville, ON L6L 0A2, Canada Palm Bay, Florida 32905, USA
© 2020 by Apple Academic Press, Inc.
Exclusive worldwide distribution by CRC Press, a member of Taylor & Francis Group
No claim to original U.S. Government works
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-77188-783-0 (Hardcover)
International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-42902-349-1 (eBook)
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electric, mechanical or
other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publisher or its distributor, except in the case of brief excerpts or quotations for
use in reviews or critical articles.
This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permis-
sion and sources are indicated. Copyright for individual articles remains with the authors as indicated. A wide variety of references
are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the authors, editors, and the publisher
cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors, editors, and the
publisher have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright
holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. If any copyright material has not been acknowledged, please
write and let us know so we may rectify in any future reprint.
Trademark Notice: Registered trademark of products or corporate names are used only for explanation and identification
without intent to infringe.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Rubber plantations and carbon management / Arun Jyoti Nath, PhD, Biplab Brahma, PhD,
Ashesh Kumar Das, PhD.
Names: Nath, Arun Jyoti, author. | Brahma, Biplab, author. | Das, Ashesh Kumar, author.
Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20190134690 | Canadiana (ebook) 20190134747 | ISBN 9781771887830 (hardcover)
| ISBN 9780429023491 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Rubber plantations—Environmental aspects. | LCSH: Carbon dioxide mitigation.
Classification: LCC HD9161.A2 N38 2020 | DDC 338.4/76782—dc23
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Nath, Arun Jyoti, author. | Brahma, Biplab, author. | Das, Ashesh Kumar, author.
Title: Rubber plantations and carbon management / Arun Jyoti Nath, PhD, Biplab Brahma, PhD,
Ashesh Kumar Das, PhD.
Description: Oakville, ON, Canada ; Palm Bay, Florida : Apple Academic Press, 2019. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “With the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentration and the resulting environmental consequences for plants, it is necessary to consider the future of
rubber plantations, an important source of latex for rubber production. In Rubber Plantations and Carbon
Management, the authors explore the ecology of rubber plantations in the context of carbon management under a
scenario of our changing climate. The authors provide an in-depth study of the carbon stock and sequestration
potentiality of rubber plantations. The volume also provides information on a biomass estimating model that can
be used in future study of non-harvesting biomass estimation for a variety of plants. Topics in the volume address
ecosystem biomass carbon losses through clear felling management systems, ecosystem carbon sequestration, and
fine root dynamics in carbon balance under a rubber plantation management system. The volume concludes with
an examination of future strategies and determines that rubber plantation development by replacing natural forests
should not be encouraged, though progressive land use changes, for example, conversion of degraded forest lands
or grasslands to rubber plantations, can enhance biomass and soil stock. The expansion of rubber tree plantations
with best management practices in degraded forest, grasslands, or fallow lands can offer an ecological stability
with significant socioeconomical support. This volume is the first of its kind on this important topic. The volume
will be valuable for faculty and students, cultivators, researchers, rubber board officials, and many others. It
will also aid in policy formulation at the scientific community level for those who are working on climate change
adaptation and mitigation aspects”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019026709 (print) | LCCN 2019026710 (ebook) | ISBN 9781771887830 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780429023491 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Rubber plantations--Environmental aspects. | Carbon dioxide--Environmental aspects. | Carbon
dioxide mitigation
Classification: LCC HD9161.A2 N38 2019 (print) | LCC HD9161.A2 (ebook) | DDC 633.8/9520286--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026709
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026710
Apple Academic Press also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be
available in electronic format. For information about Apple Academic Press products, visit our website at www.appleacademicpress.
com and the CRC Press website at www.crcpress.com
About the Authors
Arun Jyoti Nath, PhD
Arun Jyoti Nath is Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and
Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. He is an
ecologist with diverse experience in research and teaching. His research
focuses on biocarbon sequestration. Dr. Nath has obtained advanced
training on carbon sequestration research from the Institute of Botany and
Ecophysiology, Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary; the National
Bureau of Soil Science and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, India; and the
Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State University,
USA. Dr. Nath is an academic editor for the journal PLOS ONE.
Biplab Brahma, PhD
Biplab Brahma is a senior research scholar in the Department of Ecology
and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. His
research interests include ecosystem carbon management in terrestrial
ecosystems.
Ashesh Kumar Das, PhD
Ashesh Kumar Das is Professor in the Department of Ecology and Envi-
ronmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. His research
interests include tree diversity and ecology, carbon management in forest
and agricultural ecosystem, and soil ecology. Prof. Das has published more
than 120 research papers in leading national and international journals.
Contents
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................ix
Preface .................................................................................................................xi
1. General Introduction ..................................................................................1
2. Biomass Models and Biomass Carbon Stocks ........................................19
3. Potential Loss of Biomass Carbon ...........................................................43
4. Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Organic Carbon .........................61
5. Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration ............................................................83
6. Soil Carbon Sequestration .....................................................................107
7 Fine Root Dynamics and Carbon Management ...................................121
8. Conclusions and Recommendations ......................................................143
Index .................................................................................................................147
Abbreviations
AC active carbon
AGB aboveground biomass
AIC Akaike information criterion
Arp Areca (Areca catechu) plantation
BD bulk density
BGB belowground biomass
CDM clean development mechanism
CGS combating greenhouse gas
CI confidence intervals
CL confidence limits
DBH diameter at breast height
DF disturbed forest
DW dry weight
ELRBP estimated live root biomass production
FRP fine root production
GHG greenhouse gas
HSD honestly significant difference
IG Imperata grassland
KP Kyoto Protocol
LC labile C
LLC less-labile C
LUC land use change
MAPE mean absolute percentage error
MODR monthly observed dead root biomass
MOLR monthly observed live root biomass
MRT mean residence time
NEI northeast India
NF natural forest
NLC non-labile C
PB pan (Piper betle) jhum (slash and mulching) agroforestry
PC passive carbon
PDW part dry weight
RDW root dry weight
