Abstract
Allometric relationships for estimating biomass of <i>Daniellia oliveri</i> (Rolfe) Hutch & Dalz. stand were investigated in the sudano-guinea savannah of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. A total of 17 individual trees from <i>Daniellia oliveri</i> were harvested in Bini-Dang savannah across a range of diameter classes, from 5 to 40 cm. Diameter at breast height (D) and total height (H) were determined and considered as predictor variables, while total above-ground biomass, stem, branch, leaf and root biomass were the output variables of the allometric models. Among many models tested, the best ones were chosen according to the coefficient of determination adjusted (R<sup>2</sup>adj), the residual standard error (RSE) and the Akaike Information Criteria. The main results showed that the multiplication of tree H with D in the allometric equation did not improve in the degree of fitness of the allometric equations, except for leaf biomass. The fit allometric biomass of <i>Daniellia oliveri</i> model for leaf, branch, stem and root biomass and above ground biomass were the follow: Ln(Bl)= 3.0303 + 0.744*Ln(D<sup>2</sup>H); Ln(Bb) = 3.772 + 2.701*Ln(D); Ln(Bs) = 2.663 + 2.218*Ln(D), Ln(Br) = 2.072 + 1.920*Ln(D) and Ln(Bt) = -2.089 + 2.374*Ln(D) respectively. The root biomass represented on average 28% of the total aboveground biomass and these two biomasses were positively and significantly correlated (r = 0.93, p ˂ 0.05 and n = 11). For the <i>Daniellia oliveri</i> stands studied, the diameter at breast height (D) alone showed a very strong accuracy of estimation. It is concluded that the use of tree height in the allometric equation can be neglected for the species, as far as the present study area is concerned. Therefore, for estimating the biomass of <i>Daniellia oliveri</i>, the use of D as an independent variable in the allometric equation with a power equation would be recommended. The paper describes details of tree biomass allometry, which is important in carbon stock, sylviculture and savannah management.
Highlights
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch & Dalz. is a species of the Caesalpiniaceae family of the Adamawa sudano-guinea savannahs [1], playing many roles in the production systems of this region [2]
Where B is the biomass, D and H are respectively the tree diameter and total height (m), a, b and c are the coefficient of regression
The best equation for the estimation of leaf biomass was obtained with the model of equation 4, integrating the tree diameter squared multiplied by the height (D2H), with residual standard error (RSE) = 0.364; Akaike information criteria (AIC) = 17.836 and R2adj = 0.836
Summary
Daniellia oliveri (Rolfe) Hutch & Dalz. is a species of the Caesalpiniaceae family of the Adamawa sudano-guinea savannahs [1], playing many roles in the production systems of this region [2]. Young leaves are an important supplement to the feeding of livestock and certain wildlife [3]. One of the most abundant and characteristic species of the sudano-guinea savannahs of Ngaoundere [5], D. oliveri plays an important role in environment protection by carbon stock [6]. At present day, this species is under anthropogenic pressure due to savannah overexploitation by indigenous peoples, transhumants and refugee peoples [7, 8].
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