Skip to main content

Carbon stock and woody species diversity in homegarden agroforestry along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia

Agroforestry Systems volume 94, pages 1099–1110 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Agroforestry practices that integrate trees into farming are known to enhance carbon sequestration and plant species diversity in agricultural landscapes. Their contribution however, varies depending on a number of factors including elevation gradients. In this study, we quantified the carbon (C) stock and woody species diversity in tree-ensete dominated homegarden agroforestry practice along an elevation gradient in Hawassa Zuria District, southern Ethiopia. The elevation was stratified into upper, middle and lower gradient and two hamlets were randomly selected from each elevation category. Data on number, diameter and height of woody species were collected from 42 sample home gardens. Soil samples were also taken at 0–60 cm soil depth from each sample home garden for soil organic carbon (SOC) determination. A total of 49 woody species belonging to 31 families were recorded. The diversity differed significantly (p < 0.05) along the elevation categories. The mean total biomass and soil carbon stocks were significantly (p = 0.001) higher in the upper elevation category (156.17 ± 13.78 Mg ha−1), followed by middle (128.66 ± 7.16 Mg ha−1) and lower (91.75 ± 4.31 Mg ha−1) elevation categories. The corresponding SOC accounted for 68%, 76% and 78%. Correlation between woody species diversity and C stock was not significant (r = − 0.16). The tree-ensete dominated home garden agroforestry practices can play an important role in climate change mitigation and conservation of woody species diversity. The carbon accumulation potential of agroforestry systems vary along elevation gradients, but not necessary due to differences in woody species diversity.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  • Abebe T, Sterck FJ, Wiersum KF, Bongers F (2013) Diversity, composition and density of trees and shrubs in agroforestry homegardens in Southern Ethiopia. Agrofor Syst 87:1283–1293

    Google Scholar 

  • Albrecht A, Kandji ST (2003) Carbon sequestration in tropical agroforestry systems. Agric Ecosyst Environ 99:15–27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bajigo A, Tadesse M (2015) Woody species diversity of traditional agroforestry practices in Gununo watershed in Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia. For Res 4(155):2

    Google Scholar 

  • Bajigo A, Tadesse M, Moges Y, Anjulo A (2015) Estimation of carbon stored in agroforestry practices in Gununo Watershed, Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia. J Ecosyst Ecogr 5:157

    Google Scholar 

  • Bardhan S, Jose S, Biswas S, Kabir K, Rogers W (2012) Homegarden agroforestry systems: an intermediary for biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh. Agrofor Syst 85:29–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Bishaw B, Neufeldt H, Mowo J, Abdelkadir A, Muriuki J, Dalle G, Luedeling E (2013) Farmers’ strategies for adapting to and mitigating climate variability and change through agroforestry in Ethiopia and Kenya. In: Davis CM, Bernart B, Dmitriev A (ed) Forestry communication group. Oregon State University, Oregon

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake GR (1965) Bulk density 1. In: Black CA (ed) Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. Physical and mineralogical properties, including statistics of measurement and sampling. American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 374–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown SL, Schroeder PE (1999) Spatial patterns of above ground production and mortality of woody biomass for eastern U.S forests. Ecol Appl 9:968–980

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhyani SK (2014) National agroforestry policy and the need for area estimation under agroforestry. Curr Sci 107:9–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards S, Tadese M, Hedberg I (1995) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea vol. 2, Part 2: canellaceae to euphorbiaceae. AAU, Addis Ababa

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedberg I, Friis I, Edwards S (2004) Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 4(2). The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala

  • Henry M, Tittonell P, Manlay RJ, Bernoux M, Albrecht A, Vanlauwe B (2009) Biodiversity, carbon stocks and sequestration potential in aboveground biomass in smallholder farming systems of western Kenya. Agr Ecosyst Environ 129:238–252

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kahiluoto H, Smith P, Moran D, Olesen JE (2014) Enabling food security by verifying agricultural carbon. Nat Clim Change 4(5):309

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent M, Coker P (1992) Vegetation description and analysis: a practical approach. Belhaven Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Krebs CJ (1999) Ecological methodology, 2nd edn. Addison-Wesley Longman, Menlo Park

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar BM (2007) Agroforestry: the new old paradigm for Asian food security. J Trop Agric 44:1–14

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar BM, Nair PKR (2012) Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems: opportunities and challenges. Advances in agroforestry. Springer, p 23

  • Kuyah S, Dietz J, Muthuri C, Jamnadass R, Mwangi P, Coe R, Neufeldt H (2012) Allometric equations for estimating biomass in agricultural landscapes: II. Belowground biomass. Agric Ecosyst Environ 158:225–234

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasco RD, Delfino RJP, Catacutan DC, Simelton ES, Wilson DM (2014) Climate risk adaptation by smallholder farmers: the roles of trees and agroforestry. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 6:83–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemenih M, Itanna F (2004) Soil carbon stocks and turnovers in various vegetation types and arable lands along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia. Geoderma 123(1–2):177–188

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemma B, Kleja DB, Olsson M, Nilsson I (2007) Factors controlling soil organic carbon sequestration under exotic tree plantations: a case study using the CO2 fix model in southwestern Ethiopia. For Ecol Manage 252:124–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Linger E, Asfaw Z, Zewudie S (2014) Plant species diversity of homegarden agroforestry in Jabithenan District, North-Western Ethiopia. Int J Biodivers Conserv 6:301–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz K, Lal R (2014) Soil organic carbon sequestration in agrforestry systems: A review. Agrofor Syst Sustain Dev 34:443–454

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macdicken KG (1997) A guide to monitoring carbon storage in forestry and agroforestry. Forest carbon monitoring program, Winrock international institute for agriculural development, Arlington, VA

  • Mandal RA, Dutta IC, Jha PK, Karmacharya S (2013) Relationship between carbon stock and plant biodiversity in collaborative forests in Terai. ISRN Botany, Nepal

    Google Scholar 

  • Matocha J, Schroth G, Hills T, Hole D (2012) Integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation through agroforestry and ecosystem conservation. Agroforestry-the future of global land use. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 105–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbow C, Smith P, Skole D, Duguma L, Bustamante M (2014a) Achieving mitigation and adaptation to climate change through sustainable agroforestry practices in Africa. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 6:8–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Mbow C, Smith P, Skole D, Duguma L, Bustamante M (2014b) Achieving mitigation and adaptation to climate change through sustainable agroforestry practices in Africa. Curr Opin Enviro Sustain 6:8–14

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeely JA, Schroth G (2006) Agroforestry and biodiversity conservation–traditional practices, present dynamics, and lessons for the future. Biodivers Conserv 15:549–554

    Google Scholar 

  • Moges Y (2009) The impact of over story trees on sustainable coffee (Coffee arabica L.) production in Southern Ethiopia. Der AndereVerlag, Tonning

    Google Scholar 

  • Molla A, Kewessa G (2015) Woody species diversity in traditional agroforestry practices of Dellomenna District, Southeastern Ethiopia: implication for maintaining native woody species. Int J Biodivers 2015:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Molla A, Asfaw Z, Mengistu T, Teklehaimanot Z (2017) Woody species and soil carbon stocks under patch natural forests and adjacent Ensete-coffee based agroforestry in the midland of Sidama Zone, Ethiopia. Int J Agrofor Silvic 4:257–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Negash M, Starr M (2013) Litterfall production and associated carbon and nitrogen fluxes of seven woody species grown in indigenous agroforestry systems in the Rift Valley escarpment of Ethiopia. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 97:29–41

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negash M, Starr M (2015) Biomass and soil carbon stocks of indigenous agroforestry systems on the south-eastern Rift Valley escarpment, Ethiopia. Plant Soil 393(1–2):95–107

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Negash M, Starr M, Kanninen M (2013) Allometric equations for biomass estimation of Ensete (Ensete ventircosum) grown in indigenous agroforestry systems in the Rift Valley escarpment of southern-eastern Ethiopia. Agrofor Syst 87:571–581

    Google Scholar 

  • National metrological Agency (NMA) (2017). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Pearson T, Walker S, Brown S (2005) Source book for land-use, land-use change and forestry projects. Winrock International and the Bio-carbon Fund of the WorldBank, Arlington, USA, pp 19–35

  • Podwojewski P, Poulenard J, Nguyet ML, De Rouw A, Pham QH, Tran DT (2011) Climate and vegetation determine soil organic matter status in an alpine inner-tropical soil catena in the Fan Si Pan Mountain, Vietnam. CATENA 87:226–239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richards MB, Mendez VE (2014) Interactions between carbon sequestration and shade tree diversity in a smallholder coffee cooperative in El Salvador. Conserv Biol 28:489–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Roshetko JM, Delaney M, Hairiah K, Purnomosidhi P (2002) Carbon stocks in Indonesian homegarden systems: can smallholder systems be targeted for increased carbon storage? Am J Altern Agric 17:138–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Saikia P, Choudhury BI, Khan ML (2012) Floristic composition and plant utilization pattern in homegardens of Upper Assam, India. Trop Ecol 53(1):105–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Seta T, Demissew S (2014) Diversity and standing carbon stocks of native agroforestry trees in Wenago District, Ethiopia. J Emerg Trends Eng Appl Sci 5:125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Shannon CI, Weiner W (1949) The mathematical theory of communication. University of Illinois, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheikh MA, Kumar M, Bussmann RW (2009) Altitudinal variation in soil organic carbon stock in coniferous subtropical and broadleaf temperate forests in Garhwal Himalaya. Carbon Balance Manage 4:6

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith P, Davies CA, Ogle S, Zanchi G, Bellarby J, Bird N, Noordwijk M (2012) Towards an integrated global framework to assess the impacts of land use and management change on soil carbon: current capability and future vision. Glob Change Biol 18:2089–2101

    Google Scholar 

  • SZPED (2004) Sidama administrative zone: a socio-economic profile. SZPED, Hawassa

    Google Scholar 

  • Takimoto A, Nair PKR, Nair VD (2008) Carbon stock and sequestration potential of traditional and improved agroforestry system in the west African Sahel. Agric Ecosyst Environ 128:159–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Tashi S, Singh B, Keitel C, Adams M (2016) Soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in forests along an altitudinal gradient in the eastern Himalayas and a meta-analysis of global data. Glob Change Biol 22(6):2255–2268

    Google Scholar 

  • Tefera Y, Abebe W, Teferi B (2016) Woody plants species diversity of home garden agroforestry in three agroecological zones of Dilla Zuria District, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Fauna Biol Stud 3:98–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson ID, Ferreira J, Gardner T, Guariguata M, Koh LP, Okabe K, Barlow KV, Kurz WA, Spalding M, van Vliet N (2012) Forest biodiversity, carbon and other ecosystem services: Relationships and impacts of deforestation and forest degradation. Understanding relationships between biodiversity, carbon, forests and people: the key to achieving REDD + objectives

  • Tiwari KR, Bajracharya RM, Raut N, Sitaula BK (2017) Agroforestry system: an opportunity for carbon sequestration and climate change adaptation in the mid-hills of Nepal. Octa Journal of Environmental Research 5(1):22–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolera M, Asfaw Z, Lemenih M, Karltun E (2008) Woody species diversity in a changing landscape in the south-central highlands of Ethiopia. Agric Ecosyst Environ 128:52–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Wade AS, Asase A, Hadley P, Mason J, Ofori-Frimpong K, Preece D, Norris K (2010) Management strategies for maximizing carbon storage and tree species diversity in cocoa-growing landscapes. Agric Ecosyst Environ 138:324–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Walkley A, Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zomer RJ, Neufeldt H, Xu J, Ahrends A, Bossio D, Trabucco A, Van Noordwijk M, Wang M (2016) Global tree cover and biomass carbon on agricultural land: The contribution of agroforestry to global and national carbon budget. Nat Sci Rep 6:29987

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Ethiopian ministry of education for sponsoring this study. We acknowledge the Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources Soil Laboratory technical staffs for their support soil sample analysis. Manuscript development was partly financed by the project “Steps toward sustainable forest management with the local communities in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia (ETH 13/0018)”. The project financed by NORAD through the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED) is a partnership between Mekelle University (MU), Ethiopia and NMBU, Norway. The authors dully acknowledge the three anonymous reviews for the constructive comments on the earlier version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, PO Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia

    Emiru Birhane

  2. Department of Natural Resources Management, Mekedela Amba University, Mekaneselam, Ethiopia

    Said Ahmed & Mengsteab Hailemariam

  3. Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 128, Shashemene, Ethiopia

    Mesele Negash

  4. Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway

    Meley Mekonen Rannestad

  5. School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 96 Jinzhai Road, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China

    Mengsteab Hailemariam

  6. School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Länggasse 85, 3052, Zollikofen, Switzerland

    Lindsey Norgrove

Authors
  1. Emiru Birhane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Said Ahmed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mengsteab Hailemariam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mesele Negash
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Meley Mekonen Rannestad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lindsey Norgrove
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emiru Birhane.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Birhane, E., Ahmed, S., Hailemariam, M. et al. Carbon stock and woody species diversity in homegarden agroforestry along an elevation gradient in southern Ethiopia. Agroforest Syst 94, 1099–1110 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00475-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00475-4

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • Evenness
  • Tree-ensete
  • Soil