Carbon stock assessment on natural mangrove species of Avicennia marina in Pichavaram mangrove forest Southeast coast of India

Avecennia marina is potential mangrove plant and it exhibits high CO 2 accumulation, rapid growth with high biomass and significant carbon storage in soil than other mangroves. The present study conducted to imply the carbon sequestration potential of mangrove along with their biomass and sediment characteristics for the year 2017. The study was conducted on natural stand of Avicennia marina at Pichavaram mangrove forest in Southeast coast of India. To highlight the significance of mangroves a comparative carbon stock assessment was made on natural stand of Avicennia marina , and with the non-mangrove barren habitat. The analysed parameters are leaf area index, net canopy photosynthesis, biomass, biomass carbon and soil characteristics such as, total organic carbon, total carbon, temperature, pore water salinity, moisture, bulk density, soil texture, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The average measured value of leaf area index and net canopy photosynthesis were 1.66m 2 /m 2 , and 6.03 gC/m 2 . The level of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium (NPK) were higher in A. Marina when compared to non-mangrove barren site. One way ANOVA was conducted for the soil sediment characteristic observed for the both site and no significant variation was observed except particle density, soil clay, loss of ignition and available potassium and phosphorous. In correlation analyses significant positive correlation was observed with temperature and soil while soil silt had negative correlation with bulk density, pore space, soil sand and clay. Temperature and sand content was lower than that of barren habitat. Soil moisture, bulk density, particle density, pore space, pore water salinity, soil silt and clay content showed higher value in mangrove soil than that of barren habitat. The present investigation revealed the total organic carbon (TOC) and total carbon (TC) was 7 fold higher in A . marina when compared to barren habitat.