Forest Carbon Stocks and Variations along Altitudinal Gradients in Egdu Forest: Implications of Managing Forests for Climate Change Mitigation
Journal Title: STAR Journal - Year 2013, Vol 2, Issue 4
Abstract
The role of forests in mitigating the effect of climate change depends on the carbon sequestration potential and management. Although a number of studies have been done on carbon stock estimations, the influence of environmental factors on forest carbon stocks has not been properly addressed. This study was conducted to estimate the carbon stock and its variation along the altitudinal gradients in Egdu dry afromontane forest. The carbon stock in the different carbon pools and analysis of the influence of the environmental variables were studied by collecting data in quadrat plots of 10 X 20 m distributed along transect lines. The mean total carbon stock density of Egdu forest was found to be 614.72±35.79 t ha-1 (ranging from 182.6 to 1416 t ha-1), of which 278.08±25.72 (19 to 782.28 t ha-1) was contained in the above ground biomass, 55.62 t ha-1 (8.06 to 332.89 t ha-1) in below ground biomass, 3.47±0.2 (0.33 to 7.53 t ha-1) in litter carbon and 277.56±11.56 t ha-1 (148.74 to 551.30 t ha-1) was stored in soil organic carbon (0-30 cm depth). The carbon stocks in above ground biomass, below ground biomass, litter biomass and soil organic carbon exhibited distinct patterns along altitudinal gradients. The above ground, below ground and soil organic carbon stock showed an increasing trend with increasing altitude while the litter carbon stock showed irregular patterns along altitude though statistically there was no strong relationship between each of these carbon pools and altitudinal gradients. This study concluded that the carbon stock value of Egdu forest is large, and the carbon storage in different carbon pools of the forest area varies with altitudinal gradient.
Authors and Affiliations
Adugna Feyissa| Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Post Box No: 19, Ambo, Ethiopia, Teshome Soromessa| Center forEnvironmental Science, College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, Post Box No: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mekuria Argaw| Center for Environmental Science, College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University, Post Box No: 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP9603
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/star.v2i4.8
- Views 394
- Downloads 19
Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of a Glycoside Antibiotic from Streptomyces variabilis PO-178
In the present study, characterization and antibacterial activity of a glycoside antibiotic from fermentation broth of bioactive Streptomyces variabilis PO-178 recovered previously from Western Ghat soil of Agumbe, Kar...
Isolation and Molecular Methods for the Identification of Fusarium solani from Solid Waste
A major goal in microbial ecology is to link speciï¬c microbial populations to environmental processes. Solid waste degradation is an imperative aspect of environmental processes mediated by microorganisms individually...
Determination of Selected Essential and Non-essential Metals in the Stems and Leaves of Rhamnus prinoides (Gesho)
This study was carried out with the objective of determining the quantity of selected essential and nonessential metals; K, Na, Mg, Ca, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd, Fe and Zn in the leaf and stem of Rhamnus prinoides. Samples were co...
Influence of Selected Organic Manures on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Cluster Bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub)
Organic agriculture is a sustainable and environment friendly production system that offers a wide range of economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits. In the wake of the resources constraints for external far...
Assessment of Challenges and Opportunities of Wetlands Management in Bule Hora Woreda, Borena Zone, Southern Ethiopia
No Abstract