Carbon Sequestration and Carbon Footprint in Some Aquaculture Practices in West Bengal, India

Authors: Adhikari S*

DOI: 10.23880/izab-16000291

Volume 4, Issue 2

Abstract

The present investigation on carbon sequestration and carbon footprint in some aquaculture practices in West Bengal, India was conducted from the six fish ponds, two from the Nadia, two from North 24 Parganas, one from Purba Medinipur, and one from Bankura districts of West Bengal. The polyculture consisting rohu, catla, mrigal, silver carp, and grass carp are being practiced by the farmers. Sometimes, they also culture monopia with these carp species. The average culture period was four months, and usually the farmers practices two crops in a year. The farmer from Bankura practices for eleven months culture. The water depth varied from 1.2 to 2.1 m. The fish production varied from 27300 to 35400 kg/ha with an average of 31690±3469kg/ha. The water pH was neutral to alkaline. The other parameters, viz., dissolved oxygen; total alkalinity, total hardness, and ammonium nitrogen were within the optimum range for good aquaculture practices. The pond sediment was slightly acidic. From fertility status point of view, organic carbon was low to medium, available nitrogen was low to medium, and available phosphorus was low. The carbon footprint analysis of these culture systems was done. The inputs used in the culture systems were urea, single super phosphate, mustard oil cake, rice bran with wheat flour, lime and pelleted feed. The carbon equivalent (CE) of the culture systems ranged from 1745 to 13391 kg/ha with an average of 5370±5278 kg/ha. The chance of emission of carbon-di-oxide equivalent (CO2-e) of these culture practices varied from 0.198 to 1.441 kg CO2-e/kg fish with an average of 0.614±0.593 kg CO2-e/kg fish. The carbon sequestration in the sediments of these fish ponds ranged from 12960 to 54000 kg/ha/yr with an average of 25044±15357 kg/ha/yr. The carbon sequestration by the sediments of the fish ponds varied from 0.405 to 1.520 kg/kg fish with an average of 0.787±0.434 kg/kg fish.

Keywords: Carbon Sequestration; Carbon Footprint, Aquaculture Practices

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