Species richness and aboveground carbon stocks in the homegardens of central Kerala, India

摘要: Abstract Tropical homegardens with high agrobiodiversity have potential for carbon (C) sequestration, especially under changing environments. Floristic diversity, richness, and aboveground C stocks how size of influence sequestration were assessed in the Kerala homegardens. A total 839 28 panchayaths (lowest unit local self-government) Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram districts surveyed through a stratified random process. Information was gathered on holding size, floristic composition, plant height, girth at breast height (GBH) all trees shrubs (>20 cm GBH). Aboveground computed using allometric relationships, assuming as 50% biomass. The also classified into small ( 1.2 ha). In total, 473 species recorded, which 208 GBH), 86 shrubs, 179 herbs. Simpson's diversity index (0.64, 0.41, 0.46 subset small, medium, large homegardens, respectively), tree density (per hectare) highest small-sized holdings. Large-sized however, had more stems per garden. Average standing ranged from 16 to 36 Mg ha−1, having higher area basis than large- medium-sized ones. Implicit this is conservation, by