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Biomass and carbon stock assessments of woody vegetation in Pondicherry

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International Journal of Environmental Biology

Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved

ISSN 2277–386X
Original Article
Biomass and carbon stock assessments of woody vegetation in
Pondicherry University campus, Puducherry
SM. Sundarapandian, S. Amritha, L. Gowsalya, P. Kayathri, M. Thamizharasi, Javid Ahmad Dar, K. Srinivas, D.
Sanjay Gandhi and K. Subashree
Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences,
Pondicherry University, Pondicherry -605 014, India
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Received 12 March 2014; accepted 26 March 2014
Abstract
The biomass and carbon stock of trees in the entire Pondicherry University campus (297ha) was assessed. A total of 139
species and 19527 (66 stems/ha) stems of the diameter threshold ≥ 10 cm GBH were recorded in the University campus
during the study period (2012-2013). The basal area of adult tree species recorded in the campus was 874.68 m2 (2.94
m2/ha). Acacia auriculiformis (8780) was the dominant tree species. Above ground biomass of adult trees in the campus
was 4438 Mg (14.9 Mg/ha), whereas belowground biomass was 753 Mg (2.5 Mg /ha). Acacia auriculiformis was the
dominant species in terms of aboveground (1114 Mg) and belowground biomass (200 Mg). The total carbon stock
inclusive of both aboveground and belowground of all adult trees in the University campus was 2590.48 Mg (8.7 Mg C/ha)
and the highest carbon stock value was observed in Acacia auriculiformis. The current study reveals that the university
campus is rich in tree species diversity with a great carbon stocking potential similar to those of natural tropical dry forests.
The data obtained from the present study would be used as baseline data to estimate the ecological footprint of the
University campus.
© 2014 Universal Research Publications. All rights reserved
Keywords: - Tropical dry forests, carbon foot print, ecological foot print, aboveground biomass.
1. Introduction Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as its
Fourth assessment report of the Inter- Kyoto Protocol. Under these agreements, all member
governmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has countries are requested to estimate and report CO 2
strongly recommended to limit the increase in global emissions and removals of forest, and the credited sinks
temperature below 2°C as compared with pre-industrial may be used as emission reductions. There has been
level (i.e. measured from 1750) to avoid serious ecological increasing interest in the recent past particularly after
and economic threats to the planet. Global mean implementation of Kyoto Protocol, the quantification of the
temperature rise of 0.74°C has already been recorded. biomass of forest ecosystems and its potential carbon
Hence climate scientists and policy makers are focusing on fixation [4-7].
an urgent action to curb global warming [1,2]. Forests play The total carbon pool in the forest ecosystems is
an important role in regional and global carbon (C) cycles estimated to be about 1150Gt, of which 49% is in the
because they store large quantities of C in vegetation, boreal forests, 14% in temperate forests and 37% in tropical
detritus and soil, exchange C with the atmosphere through forests [8]. Tropical forests are also important because the
photosynthesis and respiration, are sources of atmospheric carbon is portioned more or less equally between
C when they are disturbed by anthropogenic or natural vegetation and soil, whereas in high latitude forests,
causes, become atmospheric C sinks during re-growth after especially in boreal zone, 84% of the carbon is in soil
disturbance, and can be managed to sequester or restore organic matter and only 16% in the active living biomass
significant quantities of C on the land [3]. The amount of [8]. Tropical forests dominate the role of forests in the
carbon stored in the biomass has gained special attention in global carbon flux and stocks, and therefore required for
the recent past as a result of the UN Framework researchers and policy makers to estimate the carbon stock
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
87
 Fig 1. Aerial view of Pondicherry University Campus. (Source: Google Earth)

and sequestration potentials. The tropical forests, both dry rate of population. This leads to conversion of agricultural
and moist types, account for approximately 60%of global land and area of aquifer into real estate land, industrialized
forests [9, 10]. Tropical forests constitute as much as 86% area and institutional area. Pondicherry University is also
of the forested area in India, of which 53% is dry one of the institution occupy large land cover 760 acres.
deciduous, 37% moist-deciduous and the rest is wet- However, University has been taken steps to green the
evergreen on semi-green[11]. Past few decades, these entire campus except build area and paths. Even though
forests, however, have been strongly affected by Thane cyclone disaster in December 2011 uprooted and
anthropogenic activities, particularly excessive grazing, damaged several large and very old trees, huge forest area
conversion of plantation, various developmental activities still exists. Flora of the university campus has been
including hydroelectric project, trampling and over documented by parthasarathy et al. [19]. Influence of thane
exploitation of fuel wood [12]. The above ground living cyclone on tree damage has also been assessed by us.
biomass of trees has the largest pool of stored carbon and is however, studies on biomass and carbon stock assessments
directly impacted by deforestation and degradation [13]. in the University campus have not been done so far.
The estimation of aboveground tree carbon stock is also Recently most of the educational institutes in Western
important because in most cases it is directly linked with countries assessed their carbon and made their carbon
the carbon stock in other pools, i.e. the root biomass is 20% footprint of the institute. Recent initiatives enlighten that
of the above-ground forest carbon stock, and dead, broken instead of carbon footprint, ecological footprint would be
branches, leaves, etc. are equivalent to 10-20% of the more reasonable and applicable. Based on the assessment
above-ground forest carbon estimate in mature forests [13]. of ecological footprint only, canada took decision to
About 22% of potential current attempts are made to withdraw from the kyoto protocol. at present indian
evaluate carbon stock assessment at macro level, mostly institutes also take an initiative to green campus and assess
based on secondary data. Only few attempts have been the carbon footprint for them. pondicherry university has
made so far to estimate aboveground biomass and soil been under pipeline to solar campus in silver jubilee
carbon stock at micro-level in any specific forest system in buildings. Several initiatives are under discussion. Baseline
India [14-17]. Such kinds of studies are essential to data of carbon stock of campus is one of the important
understand the carbon stock of above ground biomass, parameters to plan green campus initiative and estimation
litter, woody debris and soils in different forest systems of ecological footprint. The present study will be more
[18]. important in term of baseline data generation and
Forest ecosystems adjacent to the cities are more documentation. This baseline data will also helpful to
significant, i.e. clean environment, aesthetic value, store estimate the carbon sequestration potential of forest
house of medicinal plants etc. Union territory of ecosystem exist in the campus near future. Therefore,
Pondicherry is a small piece of land with alarming growth present study was intended to estimate the biomass and
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
88
carbon stock in woody vegetation of Pondicherry responsible for high diversity in plant species (Figure 2).
University campus. The centrally located ravine running west to east is an
2. Study Area aesthetic attraction on the campus. A natural area of the
Pondicherry University (12o 0.97’N 79o 51.33’E), campus consists of tropical dry evergreen forest, dry
located 10 km North of Puducherry town, on the evergreen scrub, scrub savanna and tropical thorn forest.
Coromandel coast of India (Figure 1). It covers an area of The ravine, on either sides of the wall remains moist during
780 acres in which the build area is approximately 180000 and following rainy season and clothed with green carpet of
m2. The climate is tropical dissymmetric type with most the leafy moss, Barbula indica. Further, in moist soil and in
rainfall received during the northeast monsoon (October- decomposing litter, a diverse species of fungi, including
December) and meager and inconsistent during southwest Agaricus, other mushrooms, puffballs, etc. occur as
monsoon (June-September). The mean annual rainfall is ephemerals. The flora of the university campus was
1282 mm for the last two decades (1990-2010).The dry illustrated by Parthasarathy et al. [19]. For the present
season lasts for about six months (January-June), but there study, entire university campus was considered as a single
are summer showers too during this period. The mean sampling unit.
annual maximum and minimum temperature are 32.58 oC 3. Methods
and 24.51oC for Puducherry. Geologically the harbors All individuals ≥5 cm GBH was enumerated in the
Cuddalore sand-stone formation with prominent hard entire university campus for the present study. Girth at
lateritic caps. The soil is red fertile, sandy in texture and breast height (1.37 m) was measured for every individual.
heavily drained. Historically, the 780-acre lands of The woody plants has been further segregated into adults
Pondicherry University, in various portions, was composed (≥10 cm GBH) and Juvenile (≥5 cm to <10 cm GBH)
of Tropical dry evergreen scrub, and palm savannas on the population.
western and southern part of the campus, cashew Above ground biomass of tree species was estimated based
plantations, rice, sugarcane and groundnut cultivation on on allometric equation method [4].
the eastern side. The landscape was modified over quarter AGB = ƿx exp (-0.667+1.784 ln(D)+0.207(ln(D))2-
century with buildings, roads, lawns and ornamentals. 0.0281(ln(D))3)
Where AGB = aboveground biomass, ƿ = wood specific
gravity, D = Diameter
BGB was also estimated based on allometric equation
method [20]
BGB = exp(-1.0587+0.8836x ln AGB).
To determine wood specific gravity (dominant tree
species), tree species that are represented by ≥ 3.2 cm DBH
individual in the Pondicherry University campus were
considered. Wood specific gravity was determined using
sample of stems (2-8 cm long and 8.9-29 cm diameter) cut
at the main trunk. The volume of each sample was
determined from the volume of water it displaced when
submerged, according to ASTM standard norms [21]. The
basic specific gravity was calculated as oven-dry weight
divided by volume [22, 23]. Wood specific gravity of
individual tree species also obtained from the published
literature [23-25]. There are some species whose wood
densities are not available, for those species general
allometric equation have been used to estimate the biomass.
Similarly for monocots also general equation is used [20].
However, Bambusa and Carica papaya were not
considered, because those have hallowed stem.
Regression analyses were used to test the
relationship among the variables: individuals Vs Basal area,
Individuals Vs Biomass, Individuals Vs Total Carbon,
Basal area Vs Biomass and Basal area Vs Total Carbon.
4. Results and Discussion
Number of individuals of adult tree species and
their basal area of Pondicherry University campus are
presented in Table 1. A total of 139 adult trees species
Fig 2. Over view of Pondicherry University Campus, were recorded in the University campus during the study
Puducherry India. period (2012-2013). A total of 19527 (66 stems/ha) stems
The varied topography of the campus such as for the diameter threshold ≥ 10 cm GBH obtained in the
forests, scrubs, savannas, scenic Grand Canyon-like present study. Total Basal area of adult tree species
Cuddalore sand-stone formation with lateritic cap, is recorded in the campus was 874.68 m2 (2.94 m2/ha).

International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99

89
Fig. 3. Regression between A) number of individuals and Basal area, B) no. of Individuals and AGB and C) no. of
individuals and Total woody carbon in Pondicherry University campus, Puducherry, India.

Acacia auriculiformis (8780) was the dominant tree species eliminating build area (180000 m2) could be the reason for
in terms of number of individuals followed by Azadirachta lower values.
indica, Borassus flabellifer, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Biomass and carbon content of adult trees are
Peltophorum pterocarpum and Tectona grandis, while presented in the Table 2. Total above ground biomass of
Tectona grandis (327.8 m2) was the dominant species in adult trees in the campus was 4437.52 Mg (14.91 Mg/ha),
terms of basal area followed by Acacia auriculiformis. while belowground biomass was 752.59 Mg (2.53 Mg /ha).
However, 20 species showed more than 100 individuals in Acacia auriculiformis was the dominant species in terms of
the campus. Similarly 10 species showed more than 10 m2 aboveground (1114 Mg) and belowground biomass (200
basal areas in the campus. Thirty tree species represents Mg). In India aboveground biomass per hectare based on
less than 10 individuals in the campus. Observed density all large scale inventories ranged from 14 to 210 Mg/ha
and basal area in the present study is in lower range [27]. Our study also well within range reported. However it
compared to range reported by others in dry forests is under lower side because the sampling area (Whole
[11,12,23,26]. Since entire campus as a whole (780 acres, campus) includes roads, gardens, ravine, play grounds,
i.e. 3156582 m2) area is considered for the present study lawns, landfills, newly planted areas etc. If eliminate
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
90
Fig 4. Regression between A) Basal area and AGB, B) Basal area and Total woody carbon in Pondicherry University
campus, Puducherry, India.

diverse landscapes and consider only actual forest strands Total carbon stock of juvenile population in the campus
in a unit area basis, the value will be very close to dry was 1.02 Mg. Acacia auriculiformis contributes 69% in
tropical forest range reported by others [11,12,23,26,27]. both biomass and carbon stock of total juvenile population.
Juvenile population of trees and their basal area The total Carbon stock in both aboveground and
are presented in Table 3. Among the total of 139 tree belowground of adult tree biomass in the university campus
species only 45 tree species were in juvenile population was 2590.482 Mg (8.7 Mg C/ha). Highest carbon stock
(≥5cm- <10 cm GBH). Acacia auriculiformis was the value was observed in Acacia auriculiformis. The global
dominant species in terms of both number of individuals range of aboveground density for tropical dry forest is 14 to
(493) and basal area (2223 cm2) followed by Tectona 123 Mg C/ ha [28]. However, values obtained in the present
grandis. However, fourteen tree species represents only one study fall lower than this range.
individual in the juvenile population. Contribution of Regression analyses indicate that significant
juvenile population to the total above- and below-ground positive correlation between number of individuals and
biomass was 1.6 Mg and 0.5 Mg respectively (Table 4). basal areas. Similar trend was observed with biomass and
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
91
Table 1. Number of adult tree species and their basal area (BA) in Pondicherry University campus Puducherry,
India
NAME OF SPECIES No. of individuals BA (m2)
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. 8780 138.909
Acacia holosericea A. Cunn. ex G. Don. 86 0.547
Acacia leucophloea L. 60 1.227
Acacia mangium Willd. 146 0.574
Adenanthera pavonia L. 22 8.172
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa 2 0.015
Aglaia elaeagnoidea (A.Juss.) Benth. 72 4.601
Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. 35 3.251
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin 38 1.836
Albizia lebbeck Benth. 117 5.578
Albizia odoratissima Benth. 52 1.100
Allophylus serratus (Roxb.) Kurz. 40 1.135
Anacardium occidentale L. 374 20.128
Annona squamosa. L. 6 0.020
Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco 7 0.061
Areca catechu L. 42 0.361
Artocarpus heterophyllus. Lam. 16 0.823
Atalantia monophylla (L.) correa. 29 0.954
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. 1487 42.430
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. 35 0.138
Bauhinia variegata L. 21 0.329
Benkara malabarica (Lam.) Tirven. 24 0.239
Borasus flabellifer L. 930 56.53
Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston 21 0.077
Bridelia crenulata Roxb. 82 1.567
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. 18 0.225
Calophyllum inophyllum L. 35 1.358
Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook.f. & Thomson 9 0.080
Canthium coromandelicum (Burm. f.) Alston 36 0.269
Canthium dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teijsm & Binn. 33 0.159
Caryota urens L. 16 0.090
Cassia didymobotrya Fresn. 84 0.792
Cassia fistula L. 105 1.416
Cassia roxburghii DC. 100 1.530
Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze 2 0.006
Casuarina equisetifolia J.R 569 13.193
Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirven. 33 0.104
Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. 19 1.723
Chloroxylon swietenia DC. 70 0.442
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. 212 1.767
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. 3 0.012
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. ex. Hook.f. 16 0.020
Cocos nucifera L. 284 16.592
Cordia obliqua Willd. 65 2.233
Cordia sebestena L. 19 0.123
Couroupita guianensis Abul. 16 0.049
Dalbergia paniculata Roxb. 55 1.009
Delonix regia (Hook.) Rafin 69 3.144
Diospyros ebenum Koen. 52 0.931
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. 18 0.080
Drypetes sepiaria (Wight & Arn.) Pax & K.Hoffm. 37 0.430
Erythrina indica Lam. 7 0.124
Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. 831 29.228
Eucalyptus torquata Luehm. 439 16.429
Ficus benghalensis L. 29 6.933
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
92
Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. 23 0.371
Ficus hispida L.f. 1 0.002
Ficus racemosa Linn. 16 0.198
Ficus religiosa Linn 28 4.785
Gmelina arborea Roxb. 3 0.007
Grevillea robusta A.Cunn. ex R.Br. 1 0.001
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. 1 0.002
Ixora pavetta Andr. 52 0.743
Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A.Juss. 59 7.246
Lagerstroemia reginae Roxb. 4 0.007
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merrill. 43 2.043
Lepisanthes tetraphylla (Vahl) Radlk. 18 0.113
Leucaena latisiliqua (L.) Gillis 16 0.202
Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex Mart. 12 0.128
Madhuca latifolia Roxb. 4 0.019
Magnolia coco (Lour.) DC. 16 0.029
Mangifera indica L. 288 6.487
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen 118 1.269
Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K.Schum. 89 0.912
Memecylon umbellatum Burm.f. 21 0.298
Michelia champaca L. 3 0.024
Millingtonia hortensis L.f. 48 0.708
Mimusops elengi. L. 15 0.772
Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham. 93 2.928
Moringa oleifera Lam. 42 0.918
Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser 15 0.223
Ochna obtusata DC. 11 0.109
Pandanus fascicularis L. 26 0.139
Papilionaceae indet. 5 0.026
Parkia biglandulosa Wight & Arn. 96 5.601
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex K. Heyne. 777 51.628
Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. 18 1.108
Phyllanthus emblica L. 12 0.319
Pisonia alba Span. 5 0.014
Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. 32 1.427
Plumeria rubra L. 16 0.065
Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites 244 9.699
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre 15 1.443
Pritchardia sp. 22 0.059
Prosopis juliflora L. 42 0.818
Psidium guajava L. 15 0.043
Pterospermum canescens Roxb. 87 0.652
Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume 18 0.166
Radermachera xylocarpa (Roxb.) Schumann 3 0.027
Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. 2 0.004
Roystonea regia (Kunth) O. F. Cook 41 2.095
Samanea cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. 5 0.049
Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merr. 3 0.029
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl 21 0.297
Simarouba glauca DC. 29 0.117
Spathodea campanulata Beauv. 2 0.079
Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC. 77 0.455
Sterculia foetida L. 3 0.272
Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. 6 0.010
Syzygium cumini (L.) 31 0.592
Syzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry. 5 0.027
Tabebuia argentea Britt. 10 0.206
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC 96 1.151
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
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 Tamarindus indica L., 21 0.421
Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze 32 42.055
Tectona grandis Linn. 575 327.766
Terminalia catappa L. 11 0.196
Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Correa. 30 0.462
Thuja occidentalis Carey, Jennifer H 2 0.004
Vitex triflora L. 9 0.015
Walsura trifolia (A. Juss.) Harms 56 0.627
Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. 131 1.709
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. 35 1.074
Unidentified sp 16 0.10

Table 2. Biomass and carbon stock of adult trees in Pondicherry University campus Puducherry, India
NAME OF SPECIES AGB (Mg) BGB(Mg) TB(Mg) TC(Mg)
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. 1113.663 200.255 1313.918 656.959
Acacia holosericea A. Cunn. ex G. Don 3.853 0.773 4.626 2.313
Acacia leucophloea L. 9.610 1.749 11.359 5.680
Acacia mangium Willd. 3.563 0.823 4.386 2.193
Adenanthera pavonia L. 63.673 8.313 71.986 35.993
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa; 0.098 0.022 0.120 0.060
Aglaia elaeagnoidea (A.Juss.) Benth. 45.624 7.335 52.958 26.479
Ailanthus excelsa Roxb. 9.484 1.640 11.123 5.562
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin 13.162 2.222 15.384 7.692
Albizia lebbeck Benth. 37.243 5.669 42.912 21.456
Albizia odoratissima Benth. 9.039 1.666 10.705 5.353
Allophylus serratus (Roxb.) Kurtz 3.311 0.675 3.985 1.993
Anacardium occidentale L. 120.577 18.157 138.734 69.367
Annona squamosa L. 0.057 0.015 0.072 0.036
Araucaria heterophylla (Salisb.) Franco 0.177 0.041 0.218 0.109
Areca catechu L. 1.055 0.250 1.304 0.652
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. 5.714 0.936 6.650 3.325
Atalantia monophylla Linn. 8.492 1.487 9.979 4.989
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. 359.540 61.246 420.786 210.393
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. 0.734 0.174 0.908 0.454
Bauhinia variegata L. 2.198 0.420 2.618 1.309
Benkara malabarica (Lam.) Tirven. 0.698 0.158 0.855 0.428
Borasus flabellifer L. 504.363 83.469 587.832 293.916
Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston 0.225 0.058 0.283 0.141
Bridelia crenulata Roxb. 7.984 1.543 9.527 4.763
Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. 1.108 0.213 1.320 0.660
Calophyllum inophyllum L. 8.308 1.504 9.812 4.906
Cananga odorata (Lam) Hook.f. & Thomson; 0.214 0.049 0.263 0.131
Canthium coromandelicum (Burm. f.) Alston 1.801 0.390 2.190 1.095
Canthium dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teijsm & Binn. 1.025 0.230 1.256 0.628
Caryota urens L. 0.511 0.108 0.619 0.309
Cassia didymobotrya Fresn. 5.411 1.113 6.524 3.262
Cassia fistula L. 10.032 1.993 12.024 6.012
Cassia roxburghii DC. 11.055 2.157 13.212 6.606
Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze 0.018 0.005 0.023 0.011
Casuarina equisetifolia J.R 106.883 19.581 126.464 63.232
Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirven. 0.303 0.079 0.382 0.191
Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. 5.134 0.912 6.046 3.023
Chloroxylon swietenia DC. 2.691 0.576 3.267 1.633
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. 5.452 1.190 6.641 3.321
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. 0.015 0.004 0.019 0.009
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. ex Hook.f. 0.122 0.032 0.154 0.077
Cocos nucifera L. 148.099 24.487 172.587 86.293
Cordia obliqua Willd. 12.546 2.318 14.864 7.432
International Journal of Environmental Biology 2014; 4(2): 87-99
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Cordia sebestena L. 0.550 0.127 0.676 0.338
Couroupita guianensis var. 0.142 0.036 0.178 0.089
Dalbergia paniculata Roxb. 6.965 1.339 8.304 4.152
Delonix regia (Hook.) Rafin 9.171 1.664 10.836 5.418
Diospyros ebenum Koen. 7.220 1.376 8.596 4.298
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb. 0.232 0.059 0.291 0.146
Drypetes sepiaria (Wight & Arn.) Pax & K. Hoffm. 3.265 0.654 3.920 1.960
Erythrina indica Lam. 0.278 0.061 0.339 0.170
Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. 222.883 39.093 261.976 130.988
Eucalyptus torquata Coral Gum, 126.762 21.977 148.740 74.370
Ficus benghalensis L. 26.882 3.358 30.240 15.120
Ficus elastica Roxb. 1.416 0.293 1.709 0.854
Ficus hispida L. f. 0.005 0.001 0.006 0.003
Ficus racemosa Linn. 0.726 0.157 0.883 0.441
Ficus religiosa Linn 34.793 4.399 39.192 19.596
Gmelina arborea Roxb. 0.019 0.005 0.025 0.012
Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. 0.003 0.001 0.004 0.002
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. 0.005 0.001 0.007 0.003
Ixora pavetta Andr. 2.169 0.472 2.641 1.320
Unidentified spp. 0.039 0.009 0.048 0.024
Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. 57.107 8.694 65.801 32.901
Lagerstroemia reginae Roxb. 0.029 0.008 0.036 0.018
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merrill. 12.773 2.067 14.840 7.420
Lepisanthes tetraphylla (Vahl.)Radlk. 0.738 0.161 0.900 0.450
Leucaena latisiliqua (L.) Gillis 1.188 0.247 1.435 0.717
Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R.Br. ex Mart. 0.687 0.148 0.836 0.418
Madhuca longifolia Roxb. 0.117 0.027 0.143 0.072
Magnolia coco (Lour.) DC. 0.106 0.029 0.135 0.067
Mangifera indica L. 52.096 8.662 60.758 30.379
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen 10.434 2.074 12.508 6.254
Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K.Schum. 4.204 0.896 5.101 2.550
Memecylon umbellatum Burm.f. 1.933 0.381 2.313 1.157
Michelia champaca L. 0.091 0.021 0.111 0.056
Millingtonia hortensis L.f 2.067 0.429 2.496 1.248
Mimusops elengi L. 6.262 1.044 7.306 3.653
Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham. 15.522 2.687 18.209 9.105
Moringa oleifera Lam. 2.678 0.553 3.231 1.616
Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser 0.650 0.142 0.791 0.396
Ochna obtusata DC 0.831 0.172 1.003 0.501
Pandanus fascicularis L. 0.691 0.157 0.849 0.424
Papilionaceae indet 0.077 0.019 0.097 0.048
Parkia biglandulosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don f. 25.703 4.244 29.946 14.973
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex Heyne 375.387 59.720 435.107 217.554
Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Roxb. 10.148 1.653 11.801 5.901
Phyllanthus emblica L. 2.726 0.475 3.201 1.601
Pisonia alba Span. 0.022 0.006 0.029 0.014
Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb) Benth. 8.762 1.552 10.313 5.157
Plumeria rubra L. 0.189 0.048 0.237 0.119
Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites 70.018 12.167 82.185 41.093
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre 14.138 2.145 16.284 8.142
Pritchardia sp. 0.247 0.062 0.310 0.155
Prosopis juliflora L. 6.106 1.153 7.260 3.630
Psidium guajava L. 0.126 0.033 0.160 0.080
Pterospermum canescens Roxb. 3.124 0.704 3.828 1.914
Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume 0.642 0.144 0.787 0.393
Radermachera xylocarpa (Roxb.) Schumann 0.078 0.018 0.096 0.048
Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. 0.010 0.003 0.013 0.007
Roystonea regia (H.B.K.) Cook 10.760 1.850 12.610 6.305
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 Samanea cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. 0.201 0.044 0.245 0.122
Samanea saman F. Merr. 0.116 0.026 0.141 0.071
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl. 1.618 0.333 1.951 0.976
Simarouba glauca DC. 0.361 0.090 0.450 0.225
Spathodea campanulata Beauv. 0.213 0.042 0.255 0.128
Stereospermum chelonoides (L.f.) DC. 2.435 0.539 2.974 1.487
Sterculia foetida L. 1.412 0.251 1.664 0.832
Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. 0.042 0.011 0.054 0.027
Syzygium cumini (L.) 3.573 0.665 4.238 2.119
Syzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry. 0.125 0.030 0.155 0.077
Tabebuia argentea Britt. 1.162 0.217 1.379 0.690
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC 6.026 1.249 7.275 3.638
Tamarindus indica L., 3.493 0.588 4.080 2.040
Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze 299.492 49.591 349.083 174.541
Tectona grandis Linn. 308.518 36.341 344.859 172.430
Terminalia catappa L. 1.095 0.199 1.294 0.647
Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Correa. 2.343 0.472 2.815 1.408
Thuja occidentalis Carey, Jennifer H 0.013 0.004 0.016 0.008
Vitex triflora L. 0.059 0.016 0.075 0.038
Walsura trifolia (A. Juss.) Harms 5.196 1.015 6.211 3.106
Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. 10.741 2.176 12.918 6.459
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. 2.176 12.918 5.942 2.971
unidentified sp 0.253 0.062 0.315 0.158

Table 3. Number of juvenile tree species and their basal area (BA) in Pondicherry University campus Puducherry, India
NO. of
NAME OF SPECIES BA (cm2)
individuals
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. 493 2221.9
Acacia holosericea A. Cunn. ex G. Don 14 60.0
Acacia mangium Willd. 9 45.3
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin 1 5.1
Anacardium occidentale L. 3 6.4
Araucaria heterophylla Salisb. 2 11.5
Azadirachta indica A.Juss. 27 130.0
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. 2 11.5
Bauhinia variegata L. 5 20.3
Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston 3 12.3
Cananga odorata (Lam) Hook.f. & Thomson; 10 41.6
Cassia fistula L. 17 94.7
Casuarina equisetifolia J.R 1 5.1
Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirven. 6 23.2
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. 3 18.0
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. 4 18.3
Couroupita guianensis Aubl. 2 9.3
Delonix regia (Hook.) Rafin 1 5.1
Diospyros ebenum Koen. 1 2.9
Eucalyptus torquata. Coral Gum, 8 32.2
Eugenia bracteata (Willd) Roxb. 1 2.9
Ficus carica L. 1 11.5
Ficus religiosa L. 3 16.6
Mangifera indica L. 4 20.5
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen 11 31.9
Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K.Schum. 1 6.4
Millingtonia hortensis L.f 3 12.2
Mimusops elengi L. 1 6.4
Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham. 2 9.3
Parkia biglandulosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don f. 5 25.8
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex Heyne 16 58.0
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 Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb) Benth. 1 5.1
Plumeria rubra L. 4 15.8
Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites 12 48.0
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl. 1 2.0
Stereospermum chelonoides (L. f.) DC. 1 6.4
Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. 5 21.5
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC 3 6.8
Tamarindus indica L., 1 5.1
Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze 2 11.5
Tectona grandis Linn. 48 226.6
Terminalia catappa L. 1 2.0
Vitex triflora L. 7 32.4
Walsura trifolia (A. Juss.) Harms 8 36.9
Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. 1 2.0
TOTAL 755 3398.517
Table 4. Biomass and carbon stock of juvenile trees in Pondicherry University campus Puducherry, India
NAME OF SPECIES AGB (Mg) BGB (Mg) TB (Mg) TC (Mg)
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. 1.0778 0.3388 1.4166 0.7083
Acacia holosericea A. Cunn. ex G. Don 0.0285 0.0090 0.0375 0.0188
Acacia mangium Willd. 0.0220 0.0069 0.0289 0.0144
Albizia amara (Roxb.) Boivin 0.0020 0.0007 0.0027 0.0013
Anacardium occidentale L. 0.0022 0.0008 0.0030 0.0015
Araucaria heterophylla Salisb. 0.0034 0.0011 0.0045 0.0022
Azadirachta indica A.Juss. 0.0634 0.0198 0.0833 0.0416
Bauhinia racemosa Lam. 0.0049 0.0015 0.0064 0.0032
Bauhinia variegata L. 0.0085 0.0027 0.0112 0.0056
Breynia retusa (Dennst.) Alston 0.0036 0.0012 0.0048 0.0024
Cananga odorata (Lam) Hook.f. & Thomson; 0.0075 0.0027 0.0102 0.0051
Cassia fistula L. 0.0276 0.0090 0.0366 0.0183
Casuarina equisetifolia J.R 0.0025 0.0008 0.0033 0.0017
Catunaregam spinosa (Thunb.) Tirven. 0.0068 0.0023 0.0091 0.0045
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. 0.0053 0.0017 0.0070 0.0035
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth. 0.0101 0.0031 0.0132 0.0066
Couroupita guianensis Aubl. 0.0027 0.0009 0.0036 0.0018
Delonix regia (Hook.) Rafin 0.0015 0.0005 0.0020 0.0010
Diospyros ebenum Koen. 0.0014 0.0005 0.0019 0.0009
Eucalyptus torquata. Coral Gum, 0.0142 0.0046 0.0188 0.0094
Eugenia bracteata (Willd) Roxb 0.0013 0.0004 0.0017 0.0009
Ficus carica L. 0.0059 0.0017 0.0076 0.0038
Ficus religiosa L. 0.0068 0.0022 0.0090 0.0045
Mangifera indica L. 0.0094 0.0029 0.0124 0.0062
Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen 0.0176 0.0057 0.0234 0.0117
Markhamia lutea (Benth.) K.Schum. 0.0020 0.0007 0.0027 0.0013
Millingtonia hortensis L.f 0.0036 0.0012 0.0048 0.0024
Mimusops elengi L. 0.0029 0.0009 0.0038 0.0019
Morinda coreia Buch.-Ham. 0.0028 0.0009 0.0037 0.0018
Parkia biglandulosa (Jacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don f. 0.0063 0.0021 0.0084 0.0042
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex Heyne 0.0224 0.0074 0.0298 0.0149
Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb) Benth. 0.0018 0.0006 0.0024 0.0012
Plumeria rubra L. 0.0046 0.0016 0.0062 0.0031
Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites 0.0196 0.0064 0.0261 0.0130
Sapindus emarginatus Vahl. 0.0007 0.0003 0.0010 0.0005
Stereospermum chelonoides (L. f.) DC. 0.0025 0.0008 0.0033 0.0017
Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry. 0.0078 0.0025 0.0104 0.0052
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC 0.0024 0.0008 0.0032 0.0016
Tamarindus indica L., 0.0024 0.0007 0.0031 0.0016
Tarenna asiatica (L.) Kuntze 0.0065 0.0020 0.0084 0.0042

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 Tectona grandis Linn. 0.0971 0.0310 0.1280 0.0640
Terminalia catappa L. 0.0006 0.0002 0.0009 0.0004
Vitex triflora L. 0.0113 0.0037 0.0150 0.0075
Walsura trifolia (A. Juss.) Harms 0.0204 0.0063 0.0267 0.0133
Wrightia tinctoria (Roxb.) R.Br. 0.0008 0.0003 0.0011 0.0006

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Source of support: Nil; Conflict of interest: None declared

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