title: Managing carbon sinks in rubber (Hevea brasilensis) plantation by changing rotation length in SW China.
abstract: Extension of the rotation length in forest management has been highlighted in Article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol to help the countries in their commitments for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. CO2FIX Model Ver.3.2 was used to examine the dynamics of carbon stocks (C stocks) in a rubber plantation in South Western China with the changing rotation lengths. To estimate the efficiency of increasing the rotation length as an Article 3.4 activity, study predicted that the rubber production and C stocks of the ecosystem increased with the increasing rotation (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years). While comparing the pace of growth both in economical (rubber production) and ecological (C stocks) terms in each rotation, 40 years rotation length showed maximum production and C stocks. After elongation of 40 year rotation to four consecutive cycles, it was concluded that the total C stocks of the ecosystem were 186.65 Mg ha(-1). The longer rotation lengths showed comparatively increased C stocks in below ground C stock after consecutive four rotations. The pace of C input (Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1)) and rubber production indicated that 40 years rotation is best suited for rubber plantation. The study has developed carbon mitigation based on four rotation scenarios. The possible stimulated increase in C stocks of the entire ecosystem after consecutive long rotations indicated that the emphasis must be paid on deciding the rotation of rubber plantation in SW China for reporting under article 3.4 of the Kyoto Protocol.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS Menglun Yunnan 666303, China; Faculty of Forestry, Range Management & Wildlife, Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Moazzam
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nizami
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS Menglun Yunnan 666303, China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yiping
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS Menglun Yunnan 666303, China.
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liqing
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS Menglun Yunnan 666303, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, CAS Menglun Yunnan 666303, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics; D018533:Biomass; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D057965:Carbon Sequestration; D002681:China; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017753:Ecosystem; D028482:Hevea / Q000254:growth & development*; D007182:Income; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002244:Carbon