Efficient C sequestration and benefits of medicinal vetiver cropping in tropical regions

Munnu Singh , Neha Guleria , Eranki Prakasa Rao , Prashant Goswami

The increase of atmospheric CO2 concentration is a major cause of global warming. This issue may be effectively addressed through sequestration of carbon in plants and soils. Here we studied the potential of vetiver, Vetiveria zizanioides L., to sequester carbon in field plots in Bangalore, India. Vetiver is a perennial and economically viable crop growing in tropical and subtropical regions. Vetiver has medicinal and aromatic properties. Vetiver shoot and root C amounts were measured. Results show that vetiver sequesters 15.24 Mg C ha−1 year−1 in shoot and roots, much higher than that for lemongrass with 5.38, palmarosa with 6.14, and trees with 2.92. In addition the benefit/cost ratio of vetiver, 2.3, is higher than that of rice, 1.97. We estimate that vetiver cropping could sequester 150 Tg per year in India, which is nearly 46 % of C emissions in India.

Mots clés: Plant systems; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Global warming; Sustainability; Vetiver

Domaines: Sciences agricoles; Ecologie, Environnement

Munnu Singh, Neha Guleria, Eranki Prakasa Rao, Prashant Goswami. Efficient C sequestration and benefits of medicinal vetiver cropping in tropical regions. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 2014, 34 (3), pp.603-607. ⟨10.1007/s13593-013-0184-3⟩. ⟨hal-01234805⟩