ISSN 2375-1096
International Journal of Agroforestry and Silviculture ISSN 2375-1096 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 257-266, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research paper
Woody species and soil carbon stocks under patch natural forests and adjacent Enset-coffee based agroforestry in the midland of Sidama Zone, Ethiopia
Abiot Molla1, Zebene Asfaw2, Tefera Mengistu2 and Zewge Teklehaimanot3
1Department of Forestry in Madawalabu University, Bale Robe, Ethiopia.
2School of Forestry Studies, Hawassa University, Wondo Genet College of Forestry And Natural Resources, Awassa, Ethiopia.
3School of Environment and Natural Resources, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +251925746262
Accepted 15 August, 2014
Abstract
Trees in agroforestry systems are potential sinks of atmospheric C due to their fast growth, productivity, high and long-term biomass carbon stock. Soil under forest and agroforestry also plays a major role in global C sequestration. The potential of woody species and perennial plants in carbon sequestration under patch natural forests and enset-coffee based agroforestry (ECAF) were examined. The assessment on biomass carbon stocks was total inventory for woody stems at ≥5 cm diameter at breast height, coffee at 15cm and Enset shrub at 10 cm from aboveground. Aboveground biomass was estimated using appropriate allometric equation and convert to carbon by multiplying 0.5. SOC was sampled using “X” design at depths of 0-30 cm. Results indicated total biomass carbon stock in patch natural forests significantly (p < 0.05) higher (258.67±41.1 Mg ha-1) than values for ECAF (175.3±9.77 Mg ha-1). In SOC, the differences were; patch natural forests (76.18±3.58 Mg ha-1) > ECAF (66.79±2.73Mg ha-1> annual crop agricultural land (38.93 ± 2.75 Mg ha-l). In CO2 sequestration, highest estimate values were from patch natural forests (58.04%) over its lifetime followed by ECAF (41.96%). The results confirm that patch natural forests and ECAF play a major role in climate change mitigation.
Kew words: Biomass, carbon stock, CO2, enset-coffee based agroforestry, patch natural forests, SOC.