How much oxygen a tree makes? It depends on several factors, including its species, age, health and surrounding. A tree produces different amounts of oxygen in summer and winter. So, there is no definitive value.

Here are some typical calculations: A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as 10 people inhale in a year. A single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of 48 pounds per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings. One acre of trees annually consumes the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to that produced by driving an average car for 26,000 miles. That same acre of trees also produces enough oxygen for 18 people to breathe for a year. A 100-foot tree, 18 inches diameter at its base, produces 6,000 pounds of oxygen. On an average, one tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year.

Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four. Note there are three ways to look at the amount of oxygen produced by trees. One type of calculation simply looks at the average amount of oxygen produced via photosynthesis.

A second calculation looks at net oxygen production, which is the amount made during photosynthesis minus the amount the tree uses. A third calculation compares the net oxygen production in terms of gas available for humans to breathe. It's also important to remember that trees not only release oxygen but also consume carbon dioxide. However, trees perform photosynthesis during daylight hours. At night, they use oxygen and release carbon dioxide. They do this so that humans can take in oxygen while they breathe and let out carbon dioxide.

Let’s see how does a Peepal tree release oxygen at night? All green plants prepare their own food by photosynthesis during daytime in the presence of sunlight. Plants release oxygen into the atmosphere after the process called photosynthesis. Mature forests do not capture extra CO2. At night, when photosynthesis can't take place, plants continue to consume oxygen but they don't release back into the environment.

Because of this, planting bamboo is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and help fight global warming. This occurs mostly at night when tree leaves pull moisture and oxygen from the surrounding air. So, Peepal tree would either release or not release CO2 in the night depending on if it is epiphytic or not.

However, it also releases large amounts of oxygen at day time but do not take CO2. This makes it different from other plants because most plants release oxygen during the day in the presence of sunlight but release CO2 at night. Peepal is considered to be the largest oxygen provider along with neem and tulsi.

(Er Panda lives at L-17/15, Panchasakha Nagar, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar; Mob: 9439128050. ‘bdpanda1@gmail.com)