Quantifying carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas mitigation in orthodox tea systems using ISO 14067

Tea agroecosystems represent a promising avenue for carbon storage and low-emission agriculture.This study evaluated the carbon storage potential and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in orthodox tea plantations in Central Java, Indonesia.Field sampling and biomass analysis were conducted to estimate carbon storage in above-and below-ground biomass, as well as in soil organic carbon.The 2021 IPCC guidelines and ISO 14067 standards were used to quantify GHG emissions and net carbon balance.Carbon content was converted to CO₂ equivalents using a molecular weight ratio of 44:12.CO₂ absorption equivalents per functional unit (22.25 bushes) were calculated at 124.82 kg CO₂ equivalents.On a larger scale, annual carbon sequestration reaches approximately 12.68 million kgCO₂-eq/year, while annual emissions from processing activities are estimated at 5.9 million kg CO₂-eq/ year, resulting in a net sequestration of approximately 7.2 million kg CO₂-eq/year.The Energy Life cycle analysis shows that the baseline IPCC GWP-100 value for black tea production is 3.3810 kg CO₂-eq/kg of tea, which can be reduced by up to 5.68% through a fuel replacement scenario prioritizing renewable biomass (wood pellets).These findings highlight the potential of tea plantations to function as carbon sinks and contribute to climate-smart agriculture.Additionally, these results provide a scientific basis for integrating tea systems into voluntary carbon markets and national climate strategies under the Paris Agreement.