SUAEDA MARITIMA: A POTENTIAL CARBON RESERVOIR OF COASTAL ZONE

Abstract: Currently there has been an increasing focus on coastal floral community because of their carbon storing capacity. Although, the true mangrove species have been widely covered worldwide to highlight their stored and sequestered carbon in this natural carbon reservoir, very little species-wise data is available on carbon stored in tidal marsh vegetation which constitutes the mangrove associate floral community and is also an important component of blue carbon reservoir. Stored carbon in the Above Ground Biomass (AGB) and Below Ground Biomass (BGB) of Suaeda maritima (a mangrove associate species) was estimated during April, 2015 at Frazergaunge and Bali island of Indian Sundarbans. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) was also monitored simultaneously to evaluate the amount of carbon stored in the vegetation along with the associated soil. The Above Ground Carbon (AGC) and Below Ground Carbon (BGC) were relatively higher in Frazergaunge compared to Bali island, which may be attributed to relatively higher anthropogenic pressure in the former region.

Keywords: Carbon content, mangrove associate, Suaeda maritima, Indian Sundarbans.