Mokria, M and Mekuria, W and Gebrekirstos, A and Aynekulu, E and Belay, B and Gashaw, T and Brauning, A (2018) Mixed-species allometric equations and estimation of aboveground biomass and carbon stocks in restoring degraded landscape in northern Ethiopia. Environmental Research Letters, 13 (2). pp. 1-15. ISSN 1748-9326
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Abstract
Accurate biomass estimation is critical to quantify the changes in biomass and carbon stocks following the restoration of degraded landscapes. However, there is lack of site-specific allometric equations for the estimation of aboveground biomass (AGB), which consequently limits our understanding of the contributions of restoration efforts in mitigating climate change. This study was conducted in northwestern Ethiopia to develop a multi-species allometric equation and investigate the spatial and temporal variation of C-stocks following the restoration of degraded landscapes. We harvested and weighed 84 trees from eleven dominant species from six grazing exclosures and adjacent communal grazing land. We observed that AGB correlates significantly with diameter at stump height D 30 (R 2 = 0.78; P < 0.01), and tree height H (R 2 = 0.41, P < 0.05). Our best model, which includes D 30 and H as predictors explained 82% of the variations in AGB. This model produced the lowest bias with narrow ranges of errors across different diameter classes. Estimated C-stock showed a significant positive correlation with stem density (R 2 = 0.80, P < 0.01) and basal area (R 2 = 0.84, P < 0.01). At the watershed level, the mean C-stock was 3.8 (±0.5) Mg C ha−1. Plot-level C-stocks varied between 0.1 and 13.7 Mg C ha−1. Estimated C-stocks in three- and seven-year-old exclosures exceeded estimated C-stock in the communal grazing land by 50%. The species that contribute most to C-stocks were Leucaena sp. (28%), Calpurnia aurea (21%), Euclea racemosa (20.9%), and Dodonaea angustifolia (15.8%). The equations developed in this study allow monitoring changes in C-stocks and C-sequestration following the implementation of restoration practices in northern Ethiopia over space and time. The estimated C-stocks can be used as a reference against which future changes in C-stocks can be compared.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Research Program : East & Southern Africa |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Allometric equations, carbon stocks, biomass, biomass estimation, aboveground biomass, northern Ethiopia, watershed, small-diameter trees, restoration, carbon dynamics, Blue Nile Basin, East Africa |
| Subjects: | Others > Watershed Management Others > Land Degradation Others > Water Resources Others > African Agriculture Others > Ethiopia |
| Depositing User: | Mr Ramesh K |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Mar 2018 09:17 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Mar 2018 09:17 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10457 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aaa495 |
| Projects: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Funders: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Acknowledgement: | We thank the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) for their cooperation and facilitation of the research work. We are also grateful to the local communities in the study area and the Community Watershed Team (CWT) for their support during the field work. This study was conducted with the financial support of the Cuomo Foundation through the IPCC scholarship. The contents of this document are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the institutional position of the Cuomo Foundation and/or the IPCC. |
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