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Biomass and soil carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients of Shopa-Bultum Natural Forest, Ethiopia

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Abstract

The Shopa-Bultum natural forest is one of the remnant dry Afromontane forests that provide a wide range of ecosystem services including climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, nutrient cycling, and source of rivers and tributes which feed Langano, Shala, and Abjata natural lakes. However, below- and above-ground carbon stocks of Shopa-Bultum natural forest has been not adequately studied. The research information on the carbon stocks is the crucial issue to estimate how much carbon could be released into the atmosphere if the site-specific existing natural forests were converted to other land use types. Therefore, this paper focuses to quantify the above- and below-ground carbon stocks of the Shopa-Bultum natural forest along the altitudinal gradients to understand the carbon stocks potentiality of the Shopa-Bultum natural forest, Ethiopia. A total of 30 nested plots having 30 m × 30 m (900 m2) size were systematically established along transect lines based on the altitudinal variations. The composite litters and 90 soil samples were collected from the three soil layers for soil organic carbon determination and bulk density analysis. The results revealed that the mean of biomass carbon stocks were 269.5 ± 197.8, 246.1 ± 158.1, and 237.2 ± 102.4 t C ha−1 at the lower, middle, and upper altitudes respectively. The maximum soil organic carbon (SOC) stock (174.71 ± 37.73 t ha−1) was estimated at the lower altitude and the minimum (168.26 ± 31.4 t ha−1) at the upper altitude. The means of carbon stocks at three soil layers were significantly different and showed a decreasing trend with an increase in altitude. Thus, these findings will help parties, governments, and non-government stakeholders to enforce climate change mitigation strategies through enhancing community-based conservation, management, and sustainable use of the existing natural forests, especially for dry Afromontane tropical forests.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Ministry of Agriculture for financial support. Logistic support from Wondo Genet College of Natural Resource, Hawassa University and Degaga Forest and Wildlife District of Ethiopia were highly appreciated. We also thank the experts and people of the Shopha-Bultum kebele.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Madda Walabu University, P. O. Box 247, Bale Robe, Ethiopia

    Kedir Tifo

  2. Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute, Hawassa Center, P. O. Box 1832, Hawassa, Ethiopia

    Gemedo Furo

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  1. Kedir Tifo
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Correspondence to Gemedo Furo.

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Tifo, K., Furo, G. Biomass and soil carbon stocks along altitudinal gradients of Shopa-Bultum Natural Forest, Ethiopia. Arab J Geosci 15, 788 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-022-09872-z

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