CHANGES IN CARBON FLOW-THROUGH INDIAN AGROECOSYSTEM BETWEEN 1950-51 AND 1985-86

Changes in carbon (c) flow through Indian agroecosystem between 1950-5 1 and 1985-86, which saw a 3 fold increase in foodgrain production wer e studied. Crop acreage and production statistics and human and livest ock census data from Government statistics and average biomass and cro p biomass distribution obtained from survey of Indian studies were use d to estimate various pools and fluxes of C. The crop net primary prod uctivity (NPP) doubled in this period (1.15 to 2.38 tC/ha/yr) and crop biomass production increased by 201 MtC, which led to an overall incr ease in various fluxes to livestock, human, soil and atmosphere. The h uman and livestock C pools increased by 2.01 and 3.17 MtC, respectivel y. The annual flux to mid/short term storage products (fibres, coir, r ubber, wool) increased from 0.670 MtC in 1950-51 to 2.109 MtC in 1985- 86. The results indicate that agroecosystem can act as a small net sin k of C.