Rubber Plantations and Carbon Management

With the increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and the resulting environmental consequences for plants, it is necessary to consider the future of rubber plantations, an important source of latex for rubber production. Inthis volume, the authors explore the ecology of rubber plantations in the context of carbon management under a scenario of our changing climate. The authors provide an in-depth study of the carbon stock and sequestration potentiality of rubber plantations. The volume also provides information on a biomass estimating model that can be used in the future study of non-harvesting biomass estimation for a variety of plants. Key features:• Provides an understanding of the role of rubber plantations in carbon management• Presents biomass models and biomass carbon stocks• Explores the impact of land use changes on soil organic carbon• Looks at ecosystem carbon sequestration• Explores methods of allometric model development for different growth ages of rubber plantations• Advances our knowledge of the global carbon cycle that will be helpful in studying changing environmental effects on other crops and plant products.

1. General Introduction 2. Biomass Models and Biomass Carbon Stocks 3. Potential Loss of Biomass Carbon 4. Impact of Land Use Changes on Soil Organic Carbon 5. Ecosystem Carbon Sequestration 6. Soil Carbon Sequestration 7. Fine Root Dynamics and Carbon Management 8. Conclusions and Recommendations

Arun Jyoti Nath, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, India. He is an ecologist with diverse experience in research and teaching. Dr. Nath has obtained advanced training on carbon sequestration research from the Institute of Botany and Ecophysiology, Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary; National Bureau of Soil Science and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, India; and Carbon Management and Sequestration Center, Ohio State University, USA. Dr. Nath is an academic editor for the journal PLOS ONE.Biplab Brahma, PhD, is a Senior Research Scholar in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, India. His research interests include ecosystem carbon management in terrestrial ecosystems. Ashesh Kumar Das, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India. His research interests include tree diversity and ecology, carbon management in forest and agricultural ecosystems, and soil ecology. Dr. Das has published more than 120 research papers in leading national and international journals.