Annual Carbon Storage in Young Tectona grandis Plantations Using Tree Ring Analysis and X-Ray Densitometry

Abstract

Tectona grandis plantations are crucial for carbon sequestration in tropical regions. This study aimed to estimate annual carbon storage in teak plantations stems using a novel integration tree ring analysis and high-resolution X-ray densitometry. The authors sampled 34 trees from a 7-year-old teak plantation in southeastern Peru. Four increment cores were extracted from each tree to measure growth rings and wood density. Unlike traditional static allometric equations, the data were used to reconstruct annual tree growth and estimate biomass and carbon storage per hectare by capturing inter-annual wood density variability. Results showed a significant carbon storage capacity in stems of 45 t C ha^-1 at 7 years of age, with an annual increment of 6.4 t C ha^-1 yr^-1, demonstrating a positive growth trend that outperformed several regional native species. Gompertz’s model predicted that teak stems could store up to 69.2 t C ha^-1 by 10 years. The study confirms that teak plantations are a highly efficient carbon sink, and that this dendro-densitometric approach provides a precise, non-destructive methodological framework for certifying carbon credits and optimizing forest management in the Global South.