Biomass measurement and monitoring of trees and shrubs in a semi-arid region of central Kenya

Abstract

Tree and shrub biomass productivities were measured over a 5-year period at the Rehabilitation of Arid Environments project in Baringo, Kenya. Tree stem basal areas were measured along with destructive tree data. Inside two fields individual species productivities between 0·60 and 11·57 (oven-dry) t ha−1year−1were estimated, compared to 0·48 t ha−1year−1outside one field. In 1993/4 drought reduced productivities. The average annual increment was 10·4% and 35·6% inside the two fields compared to only 0·8% outside the one field. The methods used in this study are suitable for extensive monitoring of trees in savannas, especially if combined with remote sensing such as aerial digital photography.