Assessment of Carbon Stock of Physic Nut (Jatropha Curcas L.) in Different Land Use Systems in Bati Woreda, Ethiopia

by Open Science Repository Agriculture
(May 2013)

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the potential of physic nut in sequestering carbon in plantations established to rehabilitate degraded forest lands and in live fences. Systematic and purposive sampling method was used to collect the biophysical data of physic nut in plantations and live fences. Diameter at breast height and height of physic nut trees were measured for above ground biomass estimation. Litter and soil samples were collected from plost using a sub-plot of 1 × 1 meter quadrates. Above ground carbon stock of physic nut in plantations and live fences were 5.41 and 137.36 tons per hectare, respectively. Below ground carbon stock estimation of physic nut in plantations and live fences 1.53 and 41.21 t.c/ha respectively. Soil organic carbon stock of physic nut in p plantations and live fences 49.8 and 65.94 t.c/ha was not statistically significant. No significant difference was found in the carbon stock of litter in plantations (0.93 tons per hectare) and live fences (0.93 tons per hectare).

Keywords: biomass carbon stock, carbon sequestration, Jatropha curcas, litter fall, soil organic carbon.

Full text

Assessment of Carbon Stock of Physic Nut (Jatropha Curcas L.) in Different Land Use Systems in Bati Woreda, Ethiopia