Assessing carbon and nitrogen partition in kharif crops for their carbon sequestration potential

Abstract

A pot culture experiment was conducted to identify carbon sequestration potential among the crops such as maize, soybean, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet and rice through estimating carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) partition in root and shoots. Plant biomass, C and N were measured and C:N, C:C, N:N, C:N ratio were calculated at 30, 50, 75, 90 DAS (days after sowing) and at crop maturity from each crop. Among the crops grown, total dry biomass was decreasing in the order of maize > pearl millet > sorghum > soybean > rice > finger millet. The highest plant biomass was recorded in maize crop (15.82 g/plant at 30 DAS and 44.28 g/plant at 90 DAS). There was a considerable variation observed in N:N, C:C and C:N ratio among the crops as well as at crop growth stages wise. The C:N ratio increased with crop growth from 30 DAS to crop maturity in all the crops. The C:N ratio among the crops at 30 DAS was varied from 27.53 (in soybean) to 69.66 (in rice). By balancing both plant biomass and C:N ratio, it was concluded that carbon sequestration potential of maize, sorghum and pearl millet was higher when compared to rice, finger millet and soybean. © 2014 The Author(s).