COMPARATIVE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL OF FRESHWATER MACROPHYTES: A NATURE-BASED APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Aqua c macrophytes are vital to freshwater ecosystems, contribu ng to primary produc vity, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestra on.This study assessed the dry biomass and carbon content in the leaf and stem ssues of three dominant freshwater plants-Nymphaea odorata (Water Lily), Eichhornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth), and Lemna minor (Duckweed)-collected from the Kestopur canal, Kolkata, during April 2025.N. odorata exhibited a leaf biomass of 0.76 0.13 kg/m with 35.14 0.80% carbon, and stem biomass of 0.35 0.04 kg/m with 24.70 0.53% carbon.E. crassipes, known for rapid growth and invasiveness, showed the highest biomass with leaf and stem values of 1.34 0.38 kg/m and 0.85 0.22 kg/m, and carbon concentra ons of 30.08 0.78% and 20.63 0.71%, respec vely.L. minor, due to its reduced morphology, had only leaf biomass (0.29 0.04 kg/m) with 24.16 0.44% carbon.While N. odorata displayed the highest carbon density per unit biomass, E. crassipes dominated in total carbon stock due to its larger biomass, offering poten al for phytoremedia on and carbon storage despite its ecological risks.These findings underscore the carbon sequestra on poten al of freshwater macrophytes and highlight the need for integrated management, especially for invasive species.