Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Research Article

Estimation of Carbon Stored in Agroforestry Practices in Gununo Watershed, Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia

Aklilu Bajigo^1*, Mikrewongel Tadesse², Yitebitu Moges³ and Agena Anjulo⁴

¹Jigjiga University College of Dry Land Agriculture (Natural Resource Management Department) Jigjiga, Ethiopia

²Mekelle University College of Dry Land Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekele, Ethiopia

³National REDD+ coordinator, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

⁴Arbaminch University Academic and Research, Vice President, Ethiopia

*Corresponding Author:

Aklilu Bajigo
Jigjiga University College of Dry Land Agriculture
(Natural Resource Management Department)
Jigjiga, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 344 40 40 05
Fax: +251-344-40-1090
E-mail: bajigoaklilu05@gmail.com

Received Date: April 27, 2015; Accepted Date: May 23, 2015; Published Date: May 25, 2015

Citation: Bajigo A, Tadesse M, Moges Y, Anjulo A (2015) Estimation of Carbon Stored in Agroforestry Practices in Gununo Watershed, Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia. J Ecosys Ecograph 5:157. doi:10.4172/2157-7625.1000157

Copyright: © 2015 Bajigo A, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

This study was conducted in Gunugo watershed at Wolayitta zone to estimate the amount of carbon stored in traditional agroforestry practices and along different elevation gradients. Dominant agroforestry practices (home garden, parkland and woodlot) were used, and the elevation gradient was stratified in to upper, middle and lower altitudes. With three replications, a total of 27 sampling points were used. A complete measure in home garden, 50 m × 100 m quadrates in parklands, and 10 m × 10 m quadrates for woodlot were used and DBH and height was measured. At every sampling point in a 20 × 20 m plot, soil samples were taken from top and sub soil at each corner and at center. One composite sample was taken from each sampling point at each soil depths, to have a total of 54 soil samples. Then, above ground and below ground tree carbon, total tree biomass carbon, soil organic carbon and total carbon in agroforestry practices and along elevation gradient was determined at p<0.05. From the agroforestry practices, woodlot was significantly higher in above ground tree carbon (106.47 Mg/ha), total tree biomass carbon (133.09 Mg/ha) and total carbon (448 Mg/ha) followed by home gardens and parklands. However, there was no significant difference in soil organic carbon among agroforestry practices even though higher concentration was observed under home garden. Despite no significant differences was seen between elevation gradients for above ground tree carbon, total biomass tree carbon, soil organic carbon and total carbon. It had the order of lower>middle>upper elevation, suggesting that more plantations are needed in upper and middle elevation for better carbon storage. Lower elevation was dominated by high density Eucalyptus woodlot, had better total carbon stock. However, Eucalyptus woodlot would create drought, so that it needs to be replaced by other fast growing trees such as Gravillea Robusta.

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