A Comprehensive Analysis of Land Use Types and Plant Characteristics in Carbon Sequestration in Ngiwngam

Abstract

This study examined land use patterns, tree species diversity, biomass distribution, carbon sequestration, and oxygen release in Ngiwngam Subdistrict, Phitsanulok Province, Thailand. The research encompassed a total area of 6,054.72 hectares, categorized into 20 distinct land use types. Rice paddies dominated the landscape, covering over 97% of the area. A systematic sampling method using fifteen 40x40 meter plots revealed 18 tree species from 13 families, with banana trees being the most prevalent. Biomass estimation showed significant variations across land use types, with an average total biomass of 189.39 t/ha. Eucalyptus plantations exhibited the highest biomass (1,797.50 t/ha) and carbon stock (898.75 t/ha). The study quantified carbon sequestration and oxygen release rates, finding a total sequestration of 6,944.14 t/ha across all land use types, with Eucalyptus plantations leading at 3,295.42 t/ha. Oxygen release patterns closely mirrored carbon sequestration, totaling 5,050.28 t/ha. The research highlights the superior performance of tree-based systems, particularly fast-growing species like Eucalyptus and Bamboo, in carbon sequestration and oxygen production compared to annual crops and grasslands. These findings underscore the potential for strategic land use planning to enhance climate change mitigation efforts and ecosystem services in the region, suggesting that increasing tree cover through various means could significantly boost the landscape's capacity for carbon storage and oxygen generation.