Potentials of Carbon, Nutrient and Water Storages in a 29-year-old Teak Plantation for Watershed Restoration at Doi Tung Area, Chiang Rai Province

Chathurong Wutthi; Niwat Anongrak; Soontorn Khamyong; Panida Kachina

Authors

Chathurong Wutthi Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Niwat Anongrak Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Soontorn Khamyong Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Panida Kachina Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Keywords:

Carbon, Nutrient, Water, Teak Plantation, Plant Biomass

Abstract

Potentials of carbon, nutrient and water storages in a 29-year-old teak plantation were investigated at Doi Tung area, Chiang Rai province to evaluate ecological and environmental roles of forest plantation. The study was conducted in September 2018. Six sampling plots, each with the sizes of 40x40 m, were randomly arranged within an altitude range of 450 to 900 m above the mean sea level. Within each of the three selected plots, a soil pit (2 m in depth) was made; soil samples were taken along the depth and analyzed for their physicochemical properties, carbon, nutrients and water. The results showed that the teak density, stem girth and tree height were 69 tree/rai, 71.34 cm and 20.44 m., respectively. Successional tree species varied among plots, 14-41 species. Plant biomass in the plantation was calculated to be 319.68 Mg/ha, and could store carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) at 158,124.86, 1,538.98, 183.69, 760.98, 2,931.44 and 499.19 kg/ha, respectively. The water stored in the biomass was estimated to be 588.75 m³/ha. Within 2 m soil depth, the amounts of total C and N, as well as P, K, Ca and Mg (only available forms) were accumulated at 308,829.87, 27,756.69, 35.88, 2,719.00, 3,640.19 and 2,855.81 kg/ha, respectively; the maximum water holding capacity was noted to be 9,900.44 m3/ha. The total amounts of carbon, nutrients and water in the plantation ecosystem (plant and soil) were estimated at 466,954.75, 29,295.69, 219.57, 3,480.00, 6,571.63 and 3,355.00 kg/ha, while the maximum water storage was 10,489.19 m³/ha. The information should prove useful for comparing the potential for restoration of watershed in other areas where teak or other trees are planted.

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