Predictive models for biomass and carbon stock estimation in male bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus L.) in Doon valley, India

The present study was conducted in Doon valley of north western Himalaya to estimate biomass and carbon storage in male bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) raised on degraded bouldary land. Different non-linear models (Monomolicular, Logistic, Gompetz, Allometric, Rechards, Chapman) were fitted to the relationship between total biomass as dependent variable and diameter at breast height (DBH) as independent variable. The adjusted R2 values were > 0.85 for all the six models indicating that all models are apparently equally efficient. Allometric model (Y = a × DBHb) was found to be best performing and was used for fitting different biomass components using DBH as explanatory variable. The estimated total aboveground biomass from the developed allometric model was 18.91 Mg ha− 1 in 6 year and 109.30 Mg ha− 1 in 20 years old plantation. Carbon content in different components revealed that it was higher in culm (48.66%) followed by branch (48.09%) and leaf (44.68%). The total biomass carbon stocks mitigated were 8.39 and 49.08 Mg ha− 1 in 6 and 20 year old plantations.