The estimation of carbon storages in various growth stages of sugar cane in Si Satchanalai district, Sukhothai province, Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this research was to estimate carbon storage in sugarcane plantation in Srisatchanalai district, Sukhothai province The various growth stages of sugarcane were studied at aboveground and belowground. In addition, carbon storage in soil were studied in upper soil horizon (0-30 cm.). The carbon storage of the sugarcane plantation was analyzed both in plant and soil in one crop yield. The carbon storage in plant was estimated from biomass and organic carbon percentage in each part of the plant (leaves, stems roots and ground cover). The estimation of carbon content in each part of the sugarcane was done by oven drying at 85 oC until it was at constant weight. The percentage of organic carbon in plants was estimated by Titration method. Soil carbon contents were estimated at the upper soil horizon (0-30 cm.) by Walkley and Black method (1947). The results showed that the carbon storage in the tillering stage was 4,214.09 kg/rai, the carbon contents of sugarcane trees was 357.56 kg/rai, ground surface was 40.43 kg/rai and in upper soil horizon was 3,816.10 kg/rai. In the stalk elongation stage the results showed that the carbon storage in one crop yield was 7,648.37 kg/rai, the carbon contents in sugarcane trees was 702.38 kg/rai, ground surface was 50.43 kg/rai and in upper soil horizon was 6,895.55 kg/rai. In the maturity & ripening stage, the results showed that the carbon storage in one crop yield was 8,653.46 kg/rai, the carbon contents in sugarcane trees was 1,737.92 kg/rai, ground surface was 86.30 kg/rai and in upper soil horizon was 7,193.24 kg/rai. However, it was found that the carbon storage content of a sugarcane plantation in one crop yield consists of the carbon storage in sugarcanes and the organic carbon deposit in the soil was increased when the sugarcane trees grew.