Potential of mango (Mangifera indica L.) plantations in carbon detention and ecosystem services

Fruit tree plantations have a pivotal role in regulating the microclimate and physical environment of a region. Contribution of forestry species in carbon sequestration and as carbon sinks has been well documented. However, meager attention has been paid to reveal the contribution of fruit tree species. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an important fruit tree crop of tropical and subtropical regions of the world, grown in more than 100 countries. With an annual production of 20,946 thousand metric tons (MT), a 2,371 thousand ha area is under mango cultivation in India alone. To assess the carbon detention potential of mango trees, 35-year-old, uniform trees were selected. The circumference of trees in the study was found to vary from 1.43 to 1.96 m, diameter below graft union varied from 0.44 to 0.68 m, tree height varied from 9.45 to 11.13 m, above-ground weight of trees ranged from 1,489.44 to 3,788.56 kg/tree, total weight of trees varied from 1,787.32 to 4,546.27 kg/tree, and total dry weight of trees varied from 1,295.81 to 3,296.05 kg/tree. Magnitude of carbon dioxide sequestered by mango trees was estimated to be 660.98-3,838.96 kg/tree. Annual carbon sequestration potential of an individual mango tree was found to vary from 30.78 to 78.30 kg/tree with an average of 50.55 kg/tree. Mango plantations are crucial for fruit production, ecosystem services, and sustainability of the region. Hence, monitoring and estimation of carbon detention and interaction with the farmers was done simultaneously. The study signifies the fundamental role of mango trees in the mitigation of adverse impact of climate change through carbon detention and vital impact on ecosystem services.