Abstract
Chanfuta (Afzelia quanzensis Welw.), Jambire (Millettia stuhlmannii Taub.) and Umbila (Pterocarpus angolensis D.C.) are, among others, three of the main tropical tree species producing commercial timber in Mozambique. The present study employed destructive biomass estimation methods at three localities in Mozambique (Inhaminga, Mavume, and Tome) to acquire data on the mean diameter at breast height (DBH), and height of trees sampled in 21 stands each of Chanfuta and Jambire, and 15 stands of Umbila. Mean diameter at breast height (DBH) (ob) for Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila was: 33.8 ± 12.6 (range 13.5–61.1), 33.4 ± 7.4 (range 21.0–52.2), and 27.0 ± 9.5 (range 14.0–46.5) cm. The mean total values for biomass (kg) of trees of Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila trees were 864, 1016, and 321 respectively. The mean percentages of total tree biomass as stem, branch and leaf respectively were 54, 43, and 3 for Chanfuta; 77, 22, and 1 for Jambire; and 46, 51, and 3 for Umbila. The best fit species-specific equation for estimating total above ground biomass (AGB) was the power equation with only DBH considered as independent variable yielding coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.89 to 0.97. At stand level, a total mean of 27.3 tons ha−1 biomass was determined of which studied species represented 94.6%. At plot level, total mean biomass for Jambire was 11.8 tons ha−1, Chanfuta and Umbila 9.9 and 4.1 tons ha−1 respectively. The developed power equation fitted total and stem biomass data well and could be used for biomass prediction of the studied species in Mozambique.
Highlights
Stem density for Chanfuta, Jambire and Umbila was 240, 275 and 260 individuals corresponding to an average of 13, 17, 12 stemsha−1, respectively
This study has estimated the biomass content of three of the most valuable native trees species in Mozambican forest sector, Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila, in order to support estimates of woody biomass residues derived from logging activity and which can be used for generating bioenergy
Power equation using diameter at breast height (DBH) as independent variable fitted the data best and is suggested to be used for estimating tree biomass components in similar studies due to its simplicity and easy to measure with accuracy the variable in the field
Summary
The percentage forest area in Mozambique is about 51% of which 67% is classified as productive forest [2]. In Mozambique there are 118 identified forest species, which are classified based on their commercial values [4]. Forest logging is mainly concentrated on timber production from native forest species with limited use of either primary residues from the harvesting (tree tops, branches, leaves) or secondary residues from the processing industry [5]. Chanfuta (Afzelia quanzensis Welw.), Jambire (Millettia stuhlmannii Taub.) and Umbila (Pterocarpus angolensis D.C.) account for 78% of the total timber production in Mozambique [2,6]. In this study Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila are considered as potential contributors to the total amount of usable forest residues
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