Estimating carbon fixation in fruit crops

Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) is probably the most critical of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as it accounts for the largest proportion of “trace gases.” In this situation, fruit tree orchards can play an essential role in the carbon (C) cycle of terrestrial ecosystems and can contribute to C sequestration. The objective of this chapter is the analysis of the importance of citrus and other fruit trees in C fixation. Annual primary production in the Navelina orange tree components showed fruit yield to be major sinks of C fixation in trees, with 10.5 kg C/tree/yr accounting for about 40% of the total C sequestration in citrus trees. Structural organs (twigs, branches, and stems) were another important sink for C partitioning with values of around 6-kg C/tree/yr. Perennial crops may also act as a remarkable means of C storage in biomass. Therefore, this pool of fixed C could significantly help to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.