Woody species diversity and aboveground live carbon storage in different land use type of Shabe Sombo District, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted on woody species diversity and aboveground live carbon storage under different land use types of Shabe Sombo District, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, in 2017. The objectives of this study were, (1) to determine the diversity and richness of woody species, (2) to determine aboveground live carbon storage and sequestration in woody species biomass, (3) to compare woody species in semi-forest coffee land and other agricultural fields in terms of diversity as well as amount of carbon storage. Four transects in which different land use types of stratified were established at 1 km distance from each other across land use gradients. Forty two plots, each with one hectare, were laid in all land use types. Data on woody species and aboveground live carbon storage were collated from each plot. A total of 58 woody species belongs to 33 families and 43 genera were collected and documented. The sample specimens were identified using botanical keys of the published volumes of Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Species diversity was determined by using Shannon diversity index. The aboveground live biomass for woody species with DBH ≥ 10 cm was calculated by using AGB = 0.0673 × (ρD 2 H) 0.976 and AGC was estimated at 50% of AGB. In this study, 20.79 t AGC/ha was determined from the semi-forest coffee system, 6.73 t AGC/ha from pasture land and 4.28 t AGC/ha from crop land. The variation in carbon storage among different land use types was statistically significant (F = 34.21, P = 0).