Study on Floral Carbon Storage Potential In the Megacity of Kolkata: A Roadmap Towards Net-Zero Carbon Emission

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Authors

  • Sana Ahmed
     Department of Oceanography, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM 4 Salt Lake, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India. ,IN
  • Subrata Trivedi
     School of Health and Applied Sciences, Apex Professional University, NH-52, Pasighat Smart City, PIN-791102, Arunachal Pradesh, India. ,IN
  • Nabonita Pal
     Department of Oceanography, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM 4 Salt Lake, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India. ,IN
  • Prosenjit Pramanick
     Department of Oceanography, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM 4 Salt Lake, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India. ,IN
  • Sufia Zaman
     Department of Oceanography, Techno India University, West Bengal, EM 4 Salt Lake, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India. ,IN
  • Abhijit Mitra
     Department of Marine Science, University of Calcutta, 35 B.C. Road, Kolkata-700019, India. ,IN

Keywords:

Atmospheric CO2, Urban Floral Species, Tree Biomass, Stored Carbon.

Abstract

The present study was carried out during February, 2022 to assess the role played by the major urban floral species in lowering the level of near-surface atmospheric carbon dioxide at five selected sampling stations in the megacity of Kolkata. Seventeen dominant tree species common in the five sampling sites were surveyed, out of which the highest and the lowest mean value of Above Ground Stem Biomass (AGSB) was exhibited by Eucalyptus globus and Alstonia scholaris respectively. The mean Above Ground Stem Carbon (AGSC) also exhibited similar trend with highest value of 2641.03 tha -1 by Eucalyptus globusand lowest value of 53.95 tha -1 by Alstonia scholaris. The soil pH at the sampling sites ranged between 4.9 to 6.2 and the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) ranged from 0.52 to 1.29%. The near-surface atmospheric CO2 level showed the highest value of 418 ppm (at Moulali) and the lowest value of 403 ppm (at Park Circus). The study highlights the potential of urban trees to store carbon in the form of biomass. This can be an effective roadmap to underscore the rising trend of carbon dioxide in the near-surface atmosphere of the city.

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Published

2022-12-01

Issue

Volume 19, Issue 2, December 2022

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Articles

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