ABSTRACT
In Ethiopia, plantation forests have been widespread in different diverse agro-ecologies of the country and known to provide various products and ecosystem services especially for smallholder farmers. While a few studies have been conducted on carbon stock of plantation forests in different regions of Ethiopia, there is no such study on Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus grandis stands at Awi Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, where those stands are common plantation species. The overall objective of this study was to estimate the carbon stock of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis stands at Kibrit Plantation Forest, Awi Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. For this study, to collect field data systematic random sampling method was applied.
A total of 60 plots (10m*20m) were systematically established for inventory of trees in both plantation stands. All trees ≥5cm DBH and height were measured. Within each sample plot, (1m*1m) designed subplots were used to collect litter and soil samples. Species specific allometric equations were used to estimate the tree biomass and belowground biomass was estimated using root to shoot ratio default value. Soil organic carbon content analysis, Bulk density and litter moisture content determination was done at laboratory. To analyze the data, Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 was used and all statistics were evaluated at 95% confidence level. In this study, the mean total carbon stock (biomass plus soil organic carbon, 0-60 cm) was significantly higher in Eucalyptus grandis (351.76±71.2 t/ha) than in adjacent Eucalyptus camaldulensis stand (192.24±27.9 t/ha). The mean total biomass carbon stock was significantly higher in Eucalyptus grandis (267.82±73.1t/ha) than (105.52±22.8 t/ha) in Eucalyptus camaldulensis stand. While, the mean total soil organic carbon stock of Eucalyptus grandis stand was (83.94±1.7t/ha) and for Eucalyptus camaldulensis stand (86.72±6.6 t/ha). This study indicated that, presence of great significant difference in carbon storage potential between both stands and estimation of biomass carbon stock using species specific equation gives better estimates. Finally, data of current study can be used as a baseline data to make inferences about the carbon storage potential of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus camaldulensis species in areas where the study was conducted.
Key words: Biomass carbon, Chagni district, Eucalyptus plantation, Soil Organic Carbon,
