Assessing the Potential Contribution of Latex from Rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) Plantations as a Carbon Sink

Abstract

Sequestered carbon is stored in carbon pools such as aboveground carbon, belowground carbon, carbon in the soil organic matter, dead wood and litter, however, the contribution of latex to carbon sequestration is overlooked. A comparison of aboveground, belowground and latex carbon pools for rubber was conducted as the focus of this study. Comparing three carbon pools, aboveground carbon had a significantly higher carbon sequestration capacity with an effect size of 75% whilst sequestered carbon by both the belowground carbon pool and the latex carbon pool had no significant differences between them with a recorded effect size of 4% each. Although the carbon sequestered by belowground pool was higher initially, than the carbon in the latex, the opposite occurs as the age of the plantation increases. The carbon found in the latex is no different from the carbon contained in the belowground pool, thus, latex is equally important for carbon accounting on rubber plantations.