Assessment of the relationship between rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on plant growth traits and carbon sequestration capacity of <i>Dalbergia sissoo</i> Roxb

Quantifying the impact of increasing CO2 levels on plant growth traits and carbon sequestration is crucial for forecasting ecosystem dynamics and evaluating climate change mitigation strategies. Here, we aimed to investigate how the growth and carbon sequestration potential of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. a notable agroforestry tree species responds to varying levels of atmospheric CO2 concentration, ranging from ambient level (408 ppm) to elevated levels (450 ppm, 500 ppm, 550 ppm, and 600 ppm), using OSC S-1000 L plant growth chamber. Plant growth in terms of growth traits such as shoot length, leaf length, and leaf width was measured. Carbon sequestration potential was determined by the carbon stock of the whole plant by adopting the loss on ignition method. We found that at 600 ppm, plant growth peaked, showing a 17.13% increase in leaf length, 6.82% in leaf width, and 5.21% in shoot length compared to ambient CO2 level. Likewise, an increase in carbon content of 5.21% was observed at this level. This study highlights both the adaptability of the species and a direct relationship between CO2 levels, growth traits, and carbon content. Our findings not only deepen the understanding of species-specific responses to climate change but also hint at potential strategies for enhancing carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems.