Abstract:
There is a growing interest in the role of different types of land use systems in stabilizing the
atmospheric CO2 concentration, reducing the CO2 emissions and on increasing the carbon sink
of forestry and agroforestry systems. Agroforestry has potential to mitigate climate change and
help farmers to adapt the impacts of climate change. Different types of agroforestry systems such
as homegarden, cropland and pastureland have great role in storing carbon and stabilizing the
climate change by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. The main objective of this study was to
investigate woody species diversity and aboveground live carbon storage in Sokoru District,
Jimma Zone. The study was conducted from February to May, 2018. Descriptive statistics and
one way ANOVA were used to analyze the population density, above ground live biomass,
carbon storage, tree height and diameter at breast height and basal area for each tree was
calculated. Aboveground live biomass of each tree was determined by using the revised non
destructive equation. The amount of carbon stored in each tree was estimated at 50% of the
aboveground live biomass hence 5.54 t, and in homegarden, 9 t in cropland and 3.47 t
pastureland carbon was stored. The result of the study showed that woody species diversity were
higher in homegarden (2.79) followed by pastureland(2.77) and cropland (2.1).Moreover, the
higher similarity in woody species composition were found between homegarden and
cropland(65.7%)whereas homegarden and pastureland showed higher difference with similarity
of 38.8%..From three land use types the highest amount of carbon was stored in cropland
followed by homegarden and pastureland. Eventually, the study revealed that the woody species
found in different agroforestry system of the study area have great role in carbon storage and
CO2 sequestration. Thus all stakeholders should focus on conservation of trees and shrubs found
agricultural landscapes.
