Allometric models for estimating biomass storage and carbon stock potential of Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton forests of south-western Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia has the largest bamboo resource base in Africa. However, due to the lack of species-specific models, little is known about the biomass storage, carbon stock and sequestration potential of bamboo forests. Here, species-specific allometric models are presented and the potential biomass and carbon storage of the Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton forests of Ethiopia are quantified. A total of 42 bamboo culms covering the full range of sizes were destructively sampled, with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ranging from 3 to 7.1 cm, height (H) of 7.8 – 14.2 m, and age 1 – 6-year-old. Allometric equations were formulated in the form of power models for estimating the total aboveground biomass (TAGB) of O. alpina. TAGB was regressed against DBH and H individually and in combination. Finally, the allometric models were validated and selected based on model performance statistics. Allometric equations for estimating TAGB with higher coefficient of determination (adj.R2), lower residual standard error (RSE), and low Akaike information criterion (AIC) values fitted best. Relationships between observed and predicted TAGB were statistically significant (p≤0.05) for the selected models. The developed allometric models can be applied to the estimation of the biomass storage potential of O. alpina forests of Ethiopia.