TROPICAL DRY DECIDUOUS FOREST ACT AS METHANE SINKS1KULDEEP KAUR AND JASWINDER KAURAbstract In the last few years exponential rise of greenhouse gas emissions is becoming a major challenge. These emissions cause the elevation of the atmospheric temperature leading to global warming. The Earth Summit held in Rio-de-Janeiro in June 1992 and Kyoto Conference on climate change in December 1997 made it mandatory for all countries to establish greenhouse gas emission budgets and develop mitigation strategies. Fluxes of Greenhouse gas methane, were measured in - situ monthly for two years from natural system Forest predominated by Tectona grandis, 20 km southwards from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) by using closed chamber technique. The study site is found to uptake methane showing annual consumption rates (mean - 20. 35 Kg ha -1Yr-1) Effect of different soil variables on methane fluxes like pH, Organic Carbon, soil moisture was also studied. Significant negative correlation was observed between soil organic matter Vs methane fluxes (r=-0.40, p<0.05, n=36). The study concludes that natural plant community forests should be maintained as they have potential to absorb methane, an important greenhouse gas to combat global warming leading to climate change mitigation. |