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Species-specific allometric equations for improving aboveground biomass estimates of dry deciduous woodland ecosystems

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Abstract

Allometric equations are important for quantifying biomass and carbon storage in terrestrial forest ecosystems. However, equations for dry deciduous woodland ecosystems, an important carbon sink in the lowland areas of Ethiopia have not as yet been developed. This study attempts to develop and evaluate species-specific allometric equations for predicting aboveground biomass (AGB) of dominant woody species based on data from destructive sampling for Combretum collinum, Combretum molle, Combretum harotomannianum, Terminalia laxiflora and mixed-species. Diameter at breast height ranged from 5 to 30 cm. Two empirical equations were developed using DBH (Eq. 1) and height (Eq. 2). Equation 2 gave better AGB estimations than Eq. 1. The inclusion of both DBH and H were the best estimate biometric variables for AGB. Further, the equations were evaluated and compared with common generic allometric equations. The result showed that our allometric equations are appropriate for estimating AGB. The development and application of empirical species-specific allometric equations is crucial to improve biomass and carbon stock estimation for dry woodland ecosystems.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support for this study from the University of Gondar. We are also thankful to the Alitash National Park staff for technical and logistic supports during the study and for contributing to the success of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Forestry, College of Agriculture and Rural Transformation, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia

    Amsalu Abich, Mequanent Tebikew, Yohanns Gebremariam & Asmamaw Alemu

  2. Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Agriculture and Rural Transformation, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia

    Tadesse Mucheye

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  1. Amsalu Abich
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  2. Tadesse Mucheye
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  3. Mequanent Tebikew
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  4. Yohanns Gebremariam
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  5. Asmamaw Alemu
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Correspondence to Asmamaw Alemu.

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Project funding: The project was fully financed by the University of Gondar.

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Corresponding editor: Tao Xu.

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Abich, A., Mucheye, T., Tebikew, M. et al. Species-specific allometric equations for improving aboveground biomass estimates of dry deciduous woodland ecosystems. J. For. Res. 30, 1619–1632 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-018-0707-5

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