Analysis of biomass and carbon potential on eucalyptus stand in industrial plantation forest, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Forests degradation causes forestry businesses to be economically less profitable than other agribusiness commodities, thus triggering the policies of governments that plan to convert natural forests to other uses, such as industrial forest plantations. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of biomass and carbon stores in eucalyptus stands in industrial plantation forests, North Sumatra, Indonesia. This research was carried out in Industrial Plantation Forest of Toba Pulp Lestari Areas, Toba Samosir, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Analysis of carbon content was carried out at the Laboratory of Chemical Products of Forest, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University. Preparation of research permanent sample plots (PSP) was carried out using the nesting plot method. The research permanent sample plot (PSP) made was three plots. Analysis of biomass and carbon was done by the destructive method felling of sample trees and measuring their diameter, length, and wet weight. To find out the eucalyptus carbon content, we took the samples from each part of the plant and tested in a laboratory. The results showed that the average carbon content of Eucalyptus stands on the main stem was 34.66%, in the branch was 25.75%, and in the leaf was 22.46%, respectively. This research found that the selected allometric equations for estimating the carbon stock of eucalyptus stands was W = -174.670 + 0.347D2 + 8.180H and C = -55.668 + 0.085D2 + 2.947H (W=biomass; C=carbon; D= diameter at breast height; H=height). This research indicated that the carbon potential of eucalyptus stands was 71.05 tons/ha and 26.23 tons C/ha.