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

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.

Keywords

Woodland / Allometric equations / Aboveground biomass / Destructive sampling

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