Woody species diversity and carbon stock under different land use types at Gergera watershed in eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

Gebre, Abrha Brhan; Birhane, Emiru; Gebresamuel, Girmay; Hadgu, Kiros Meles; Norgrove, Lindsey (2019). Woody species diversity and carbon stock under different land use types at Gergera watershed in eastern Tigray, Ethiopia Agroforestry Systems, 93(3), pp. 1191-1203. Springer 10.1007/s10457-018-0226-6

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Woody diversity and carbon stock estimation of land use types have critical role for the successful implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. This study investigated relationships between woody species diversity and carbon stock in different land use types. Three land use types (area exclosure, homestead agroforestry and woodlot) were selected in the Gergera watershed, Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 45 sample plots were established using stratified random sampling, 15 plots in each land use types. Vegetation parameters such as diameter at breast height, diameter at stump height, tree height and species type were recorded. Woody species diversity and carbon stocks significantly varied among the land use types. Woody species diversity, species richness and species density were significantly higher in exclosure compared to the other land use types. Mean above-ground woody species carbon stock in woodlot (8.79 ± 7.72) was significantly higher than both in exclosure (2.29 ± 2.73) (p = 0.002) and homestead agroforestry (4.17 ± 4.18) (p = 0.022) and similarly had higher below ground woody species carbon stock than the other two systems. However, there were no significant difference among exclosure and homestead agroforestry in total carbon stock. There were a significant relationship between woody species diversity and carbon stock (R2 = − 0.349, p = 0.019) in each land use types. Land-use change can lead to changes in species diversity and significantly contribute to carbon sequestration. Although, more carbon stock was found in woodlot dominated by Eucalyptus, this would result in water competition and other fast growing trees may be preferable.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Resource-efficient agricultural production systems School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > HAFL Hugo P. Cecchini Institute School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture
Name:	Gebre, Abrha Brhan; Birhane, Emiru; Gebresamuel, Girmay; Hadgu, Kiros Meles and Norgrove, Lindsey
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
ISSN:	0167-4366
Publisher:	Springer
Language:	English
Submitter:	David Zimmer
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2019 10:25
Last Modified:	22 Sep 2020 07:24
Publisher DOI:	10.1007/s10457-018-0226-6
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Allometric equation; Carbon stock; Gergera watershed; Land-use types; Species diversity
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.8145
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/8145