Estimation of volume and biomass for pinus patula tree species grown at Suatf Plantation Olmotonyi-Arusha, Tanzania
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Date
2014
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Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study was done to estimate volume and biomass of Pinus patula tree species
grown at Sokoinc University of Agriculture Training Forest plantation in Arusha
region. P. patula is the most widely planted tree species in Tanzania compared to
other exotic tree species. Quantification of carbon stock in forests is a key
component in the implementation of the emerging carbon credit market mechanisms.
This calls for development of appropriate allometric models for predicting biomass
which currently are scarce. Fifty trees with minimum and maximum dbh of 4.3 and
65 cm respectively were sampled for destructive sampling. Four model forms for
volume and biomass were fitted and selection of the best models based on the
Alkaike Information Criterion. Tree volume and biomass models were developed.
Basic wood density, biomass expansion factor and Root to shoot ratio were
determined. Testing for applicability of existing models was carried out. The sawlog
stem volume and aboveground biomass estimates derived from previously
developed models were not significant different (P > 0.05) from the observed
sawlog stem volume and aboveground biomass respectively while significant
different (P < 0.05) was revealed between the observed total tree volume values and
total tree volume estimates derived from the existing total tree volume model. Stand
sawlog and total tree volume estimated using the developed equations ranged from
73.45 ± 8.97 to 387.8 ± 56.06 and 101.66 ± 12.23 to 490.96 ± 69.87 m3 ha1 for the
tree age of 4 and 28 years respectively. Aboveground and belowground biomass
estimates ranged from 18.68 ± 2.61 to 213.33 ± 31.70 and 3.33 ± 0.49 to 60.39 ±
9.68 Mg ha'1 respectively while total tree biomass ranged from 37.16 ± 4.73 to
269.20 ±41.33 Mg ha'1 for tree age of 4 and 28 years respectively.
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Keywords
Biomass, Pinus patula tree, Species, Suatf Plantation, Olmotonyi-Arusha, Tanzania