ABSTRACT
Reliable estimates of biomass and soil carbon stock are needed to understand the effect of forests in climate change mitigation. While a few studies have been conducted, in this forest any carbon related scientific research and Comparing relative importance of biomass and soil carbon estimation methodological tiers was not yet studied.
The studies were assessed (a) estimate and compare biomass and soil carbon stocks using the three tiers, (b) to determine relationship and relative accuracy of each tier for the case of Delima forest and (c) To identify the stand characteristics of Delima Dry Evergreen Montane forest. Systematic plot sampling method was conducted to estimate carbon stock. A total of 30 plots sized 20m x 20m were inventoried, litter and soil samples were collected. 90 composited soil samples for SOC and 90 un-composited BD samples from (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm) depth class were collected. The AGBC and BGBC of forest and high woodland stratum were 19.53 ± 3.44, 7.67 ± 1.48 and 5.1 ± 0.89, 2 ± 0.38-ton ha-1 respectively with the p-value of 0.004, which was highly significant among stratums. The AGBC and BGBC of Tier 1, 2 and 3 were 140 and 37.8 Mg ha-1, 113 and 28 Mg ha-1and 13.61± 11.74 and 3.54 Mg ha-1 respectively. The LBC of Tier 1, 2 and 3 were 5.2, 4.35 and 0.01± 0.06 Mg ha-1. The SOC of Tier 1, 2 and 3 were 63 Mg ha-1, 94 Mg ha-1 and 113.2± 11.75 Mg ha-1. The share of total SOC stock of Tier 3 was higher than Tier2 and 3 by 44.35% and 16.96%. The total carbon stock density of Tier 1, 2 and 3 were 246 Mg ha-1, 239.35 Mg ha-1 and 153.76 Mg ha-1. This study reveals that the present study biomass and soil carbon stocks of the forest different among methods applied.
Key words and phrases: Allometric equations, carbon stock, relative accuracy, soil carbon, Tiers
