| Peer-Reviewed

Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation

Received: 26 April 2015    Accepted: 9 May 2015    Published: 21 May 2015
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Estimation of net above ground biomass in forest ecosystems by non-destructive means requires the development of allometric equations, to allow prediction of above ground biomass from readily measurable variables such as Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Equations of this type have not been well developed for trees of Wof-Washa Forest. In the present study, trees of two species namely Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus, with three diameter classes (30-50 cm, 51-70 cm and 71-100cm) with the aim of developing appropriate allometric equations were characterized. Each species considered separately, there was significant variation among the slopes and elevations of the equations obtained for each. The allometric equation that was obtained for the two species had significant (P> 0.000) fit for linear model. The difference between DBH-biomass relationships among these species can be attributed to differences in the distribution of biomass among trunk-plus-large-branches, secondary branches and leaves, and also woody tissue density. Comparison of these results with those obtained using a previously published allometric model revealed significant differences with biomass estimation. It is believed that previously published allometric model corresponding to above ground biomass in dry forests may bear errors, and propose the new equations to be used in the future for the two species and that other one have to become developed for the remaining species.

Published in American Journal of Life Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20
Page(s) 190-202
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Above Ground Biomass, Allometric Equations, Climate Change Mitigation, Wof-Washa Forest, Non-Destructive Method

References
[1] ABOAL, J. R., ARÉVALO, J. R. & FERNÁNDEZ, Á. 2005. Allometric relationships of different tree species and stand above ground biomass in the Gomera laurel forest (Canary Islands). Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 200, 264-274.
[2] BAKER, T. R., PHILLIPS, O. L., MALHI, Y., ALMEIDA, S., ARROYO, L., DI FIORE, A., ERWIN, T., KILLEEN, T. J., LAURANCE, S. G. & LAURANCE, W. F. 2004. Variation in wood density determines spatial patterns inAmazonian forest biomass. Global Change Biology, 10, 545-562.
[3] BASUKI, T., VAN LAAKE, P., SKIDMORE, A. & HUSSIN, Y. 2009. Allometric equations for estimating the above-ground biomass in tropical lowland Dipterocarp forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 257, 1684-1694.
[4] BEKELE, T. 1993. Vegetation ecology of remnant Afromontane forests on the Central Plateau of Shewa, Ethiopia.
[5] BROWN, S. 1997. Estimating biomass and biomass change of tropical forests: a primer, Food & Agriculture Org.
[6] BROWN, S., GILLESPIE, A. J. & LUGO, A. E. 1989. Biomass estimation methods for tropical forests with applications to forest inventory data. Forest science, 35, 881-902.
[7] CHAVE, J., RIÉRA, B. & DUBOIS, M.-A. 2001. Estimation of biomass in a neotropical forest of French Guiana: spatial and temporal variability. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 17, 79-96.
[8] DUDLEY, N. & FOWNES, J. 1992. Preliminary biomass equations for eight species of fast-growing tropical trees. Journal of tropical forest science, 5, 68-73.
[9] DUVIGNEAUD, P. 1974. A synthesis of ecology: populations, communities, ecosystems, biosphere and noosphere, Doin, editeurs.
[10] FAO 2012. Manual for building tree volume and biomass allometric equations: from field measurement to prediction.
[11] GEIDER, R. J., DELUCIA, E. H., FALKOWSKI, P. G., FINZI, A. C., GRIME, J. P., GRACE, J., KANA, T. M., LA ROCHE, J., LONG, S. P. & OSBORNE, B. A. 2001. Primary productivity of planet earth: biological determinants and physical constraints in terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Global Change Biology, 7, 849-882.
[12] IPCC 2007. Climate change 2007-the physical science basis: Working group I contribution to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC, Cambridge University Press.
[13] KETTERINGS, Q. M., COE, R., VAN NOORDWIJK, M. & PALM, C. A. 2001. Reducing uncertainty in the use of allometric biomass equations for predicting above-ground tree biomass in mixed secondary forests. Forest Ecology and management, 146, 199-209.
[14] KUYAH, S., DIETZ, J., MUTHURI, C., JAMNADASS, R., MWANGI, P., COE, R. & NEUFELDT, H. 2012. Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: I. Aboveground biomass. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 158, 216-224.
[15] LITTON, C. M. & BOONE KAUFFMAN, J. 2008. Allometric models for predicting aboveground biomass in two widespread woody plants in Hawaii. Biotropica, 40, 313-320.
[16] MACDICKEN, K. G. 1997. A guide to monitoring carbon storage in forestry and agroforestry projects, Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development USA.
[17] NELSON, B. W., MESQUITA, R., PEREIRA, J. L., DE SOUZA, S. G. A., BATISTA, G. T. & COUTO, L. B. 1999. Allometric regressions for improved estimate of secondary forest biomass in the central Amazon. Forest ecology and management, 117, 149-167.
[18] PEARSON, T., WALKER, S. & BROWN, S. 2013. Sourcebook for land use, land-use change and forestry projects.
[19] SINGH, V., TEWARI, A., KUSHWAHA, S. P. & DADHWAL, V. K. 2011. Formulating allometric equations for estimating biomass and carbon stock in small diameter trees. Forest Ecology and Management, 261, 1945-1949.
[20] TEKETAY, D. & BEKELE, T. 1995. Floristic composition of Wof‐Washa natural forest, Central Ethiopia: Implications for the conservation of biodiversity. Feddes Repertorium, 106, 127-147.
[21] UNFCCC. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: Handbook. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: handbook, 2006. UNFCCC.
[22] WANG, C. 2006. Biomass allometric equations for 10 co-occurring tree species in Chinese temperate forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 222, 9-16.
[23] WHITTAKER, R. H. & WOODWELL, G. M. 1968. Dimension and production relations of trees and shrubs in the Brookhaven Forest, New York. The Journal of Ecology, 1-25.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Eyosias Worku, Teshome Soromessa. (2015). Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. American Journal of Life Sciences, 3(3), 190-202. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Eyosias Worku; Teshome Soromessa. Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. Am. J. Life Sci. 2015, 3(3), 190-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Eyosias Worku, Teshome Soromessa. Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation. Am J Life Sci. 2015;3(3):190-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20,
      author = {Eyosias Worku and Teshome Soromessa},
      title = {Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation},
      journal = {American Journal of Life Sciences},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {190-202},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajls.20150303.20},
      abstract = {Estimation of net above ground biomass in forest ecosystems by non-destructive means requires the development of allometric equations, to allow prediction of above ground biomass from readily measurable variables such as Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Equations of this type have not been well developed for trees of Wof-Washa Forest. In the present study, trees of two species namely Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus, with three diameter classes (30-50 cm, 51-70 cm and 71-100cm) with the aim of developing appropriate allometric equations were characterized. Each species considered separately, there was significant variation among the slopes and elevations of the equations obtained for each. The allometric equation that was obtained for the two species had significant (P> 0.000) fit for linear model. The difference between DBH-biomass relationships among these species can be attributed to differences in the distribution of biomass among trunk-plus-large-branches, secondary branches and leaves, and also woody tissue density. Comparison of these results with those obtained using a previously published allometric model revealed significant differences with biomass estimation. It is believed that previously published allometric model corresponding to above ground biomass in dry forests may bear errors, and propose the new equations to be used in the future for the two species and that other one have to become developed for the remaining species.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Allometric Equation for Biomass Determination in Juniperus procera Endl. and Podocarpus falcatus Mirb of Wof-Washa Forest: Implication for Climate Change Mitigation
    AU  - Eyosias Worku
    AU  - Teshome Soromessa
    Y1  - 2015/05/21
    PY  - 2015
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20
    T2  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JF  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    JO  - American Journal of Life Sciences
    SP  - 190
    EP  - 202
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5737
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajls.20150303.20
    AB  - Estimation of net above ground biomass in forest ecosystems by non-destructive means requires the development of allometric equations, to allow prediction of above ground biomass from readily measurable variables such as Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). Equations of this type have not been well developed for trees of Wof-Washa Forest. In the present study, trees of two species namely Juniperus procera and Podocarpus falcatus, with three diameter classes (30-50 cm, 51-70 cm and 71-100cm) with the aim of developing appropriate allometric equations were characterized. Each species considered separately, there was significant variation among the slopes and elevations of the equations obtained for each. The allometric equation that was obtained for the two species had significant (P> 0.000) fit for linear model. The difference between DBH-biomass relationships among these species can be attributed to differences in the distribution of biomass among trunk-plus-large-branches, secondary branches and leaves, and also woody tissue density. Comparison of these results with those obtained using a previously published allometric model revealed significant differences with biomass estimation. It is believed that previously published allometric model corresponding to above ground biomass in dry forests may bear errors, and propose the new equations to be used in the future for the two species and that other one have to become developed for the remaining species.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Sections