Comparative CO2 assimilation power of jute and mesta

Comparative CO2 assimilation power of jute and mesta


Kenaf and jute are kind of fast-growing and high production energy plants, its CO2 assimilation capacity is 3-4 times and 4-5 times as much as trees, respectively (Pinging and QiJianmin, 2007). Dense tree plants are known to sequester carbon to the extent of about 7.25 MT per hectare per year (Ghosh and Anuradha, 2007).

Kenaf (H. cannabinus) plantation (if grown in high density) has been recorded to fix about twice the amount of carbon dioxide as compared to forest plantation thereby contributing to global and regional environment (Lam et al., 2003). While, jute has also a high carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation power. Atmospheric CO2 is the most important of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Like all plants, jute uses CO2 as a way of making sugars. In the 100 days of the jute-growing period, one hectare of jute plants can absorb about 15 MT of CO2 from atmosphere and liberate about 11 MT of oxygen, the life-supporting agent. Studies thus reveal that the CO2 assimilation rate of jute is several times higher than that of trees (Inagaki, 2000). This observation was endorsed by IJSG (2003). Same data have been reported by CommodityOnline (http://www.commodityonline.com/commodities/fibers/jute.php) and several others.

In another study on the eco-friendly role of jute more than 30 Egyptian species and cultivars were subjected to extensive screening studies under controlled environmental and pollutant exposure conditions to mimic the Egyptian environmental conditions and ozone levels in urban and rural sites. Four plant species were found to be more sensitive to ozone than the universally used ozone-bioindicator, tobacco Bel W3, under the Egyptian environmental conditions used. Jute (Corchorus olitorius c.v. local), was found to be most sensitive to exhibit typical ozone injury symptoms, one of which was the net photosynthetic CO2 assimilation rate, faster and at lower ozone concentrations than Bel W3.





References:

Ghosh Gopi, N. and Anuradha, T.N. (2007). Climate Change and Food Security- Experiences. Food and Nutrition Security Community.

IJSG (2003). Jute and the Environment (http://www.jute.org/environment.htm).

Inagaki, H (2000). Progress on Kenaf in Japan.
Third Annual Conference, held at American Kenaf Society,Texas, USA, 2000.
Lam Thi Bach Tuyet, Hori Keko and Iiyama Kenzi (2003). Journal of Wood Science 49(3): 255-261.

Madkour, S.A. and Laurence, J.A. (2002). Egyptian plant species as new ozone indicators. Environment Pollution 20(2):339-53.
Pinging Fang and QiJianmin (2007). Biomaterial Utilization of Jute and Kenaf. Fujian Agriculture and ForestryUniversity, Xianmen, China (http://www.ltn.gov.my/pdf/TSII-10-PingpingFang.pdf).