STORED CARBON IN THE GRASSLAND HABITAT OF GORUMARA NATIONAL PARK, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Abstract: The biomass and stored carbon in two dominant grass species (Daddha and Chepti) widely available in the Gorumara National Park was assessed during August, 2015. The average Above Ground Biomass (AGB) followed the order Daddha (15.34 Kg m-2) > Chepti (11.23 Kg m-2) in Sandy soil. In case of Sandy loam soil, the AGB followed a reverse order i.e., Chepti (17.54 Kg m-2) > Daddha (16.72 Kg m-2). The average Below Ground Biomass (BGB) followed the order Daddha (5.05 Kg m-2) > Chepti (2.22 Kg m-2) in sandy soil. In case of Sandy loam soil, the average BGB followed the order Daddha (6.25 Kg m-2) > Chepti (3.46 Kg m-2). The average Above Ground Carbon (AGC) followed the sequence Daddha (7.18 Kg m-2) > Chepti (5.51 Kg m-2) in Sandy soil and Chepti (8.69 Kg m-2) > Daddha (8.04 Kg m-2) in Sandy loam soil. The average Below Ground Carbon (BGC) in Daddha and Chepti were 2.23 Kg m-2 and 1.05 Kg m-2 respectively in Sandy soil. In Sandy loam soil, the values were relatively higher 2.93 Kg m-2 in Daddha and 1.69 Kg m-2 in Chepti. Considering the stored carbon in the two species, CO2 - equivalent was estimated and the results support the potential of the species in offsetting CO2 at the local level preferably that grow on sandy loam type of substratum.

Keywords: Gorumara National Park (GNP), Above Ground Biomass (AGB), Below Ground Biomass (BGB), Above Ground Carbon (AGC), Below Ground Carbon (BGC), Carbon Sequestration.