Abstract:
Comparison of above and below ground carbon stock across a different land use type: A case
of Jelo, Jelo-Muktar forest district, West Harrerge Zone, Oromiya Regional State
Ermias Bekure
Addis Ababa University, 2013
The present study was conducted to access the carbon stock estimation and comparison of
different carbon pools (above ground, below ground, litter and soil organic carbon found in
selected participatory and state managed old and young aged plantation and natural forest
blocks .The biomass and carbon stock storage of each tree were determined by using
quadrant plots of 10 x 20 m distributed along transect lines. Considering different variables
(DBH classes, age groups.) General tropical dry forest biomass regression equation and direct
laboratory result were used
The studies revealed that above and below ground carbon stock of the old age natural forest
blocks were 185.80 - 36.83 t ha -1, and above and below ground carbon stock of the young
age natural forest blocks were 29.80 --6.55 t ha-1), respectively.
Soil organic carbon stock of the old age natural forest blocks was 107.31 t ha -1 and the young
age natural forest blocks were 127.5 t ha 1.Litter carbon stock of the old and the young age
natural forest blocks were (3.98 t ha -1, 5.32 t ha-1), respectively.
The above and belowground carbon stock per hectare were higher for the old age group but
the young age forest blocks had higher Litter and soil organic carbon stock (t ha-1).
While comparing with other studies, the old age natural forest block (above and below ground
carbon) was larger than those estimates obtained in some countries and comparable to
estimates obtained in similar environmental conditions.
Concerning plantation forest blocks ,The mean above and belowground carbon stocks of the
old age plantation forest blocks were (36.72 t ha-1, 7.34 t ha-1) and The mean above and
belowground carbon stocks of the young age plantation forest blocks were (31.1 t ha-1, 6 t
ha-1 ). Soil organic carbon stock of the young and old age plantation forest blocks were (88.86
t c ha -1; 59.45 t c ha -1), respectively
The above and belowground carbon stock per hector were higher for the old age .In contrast
the young age plantation forest blocks had higher soil organic carbon stock.
Keywords: Biomass carbon stock, Land-use type, Carbon sequestration, Litter, Soil organic carbon