Biomass and soil carbon stocks under different coffee agroforestry systems in Hurumu District, southwest Ethiopia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20372/star.V14.i2.11Keywords:
Allometric Equation, Carbon Sink, Coffee Farming Systems, Shade TreesAbstract
Understanding the carbon storage capacity of coffee agroforestry systems is essential for promoting sustainable land use and addressing climate change. However, there is a lack of scientific data on biomass and soil carbon stocks in Ethiopia's coffee-growing regions. This study estimated biomass and soil carbon stocks in garden, semi-forest, and forest coffee production systems in Hurumu District, southwestern Ethiopia. Data were collected from 24 plots measuring 20 m × 20 m, with soil samples (0–30 cm) analyzed for organic carbon and biomass carbon estimated using allometric equations. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean carbon stocks among the systems. The results showed that the forest coffee system had the highest mean total carbon stock (635.12 ton/ha), followed by the semi-forest (450.87 ton/ha), and the garden system (294.39 ton/ha). These variations were statistically significant at the 5% level (p < 0.05). The study identified the key shade tree species that contribute to carbon storage in each system: Podocarpus falcatus in the forest (45.73 ton/ha), Cordia africana in the semi-forest (35.74 ton/ha), and Prunus africana in the garden system (29.98 ton/ha). The results suggest that promoting these species enhances carbon storage and supports climate resilience.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Albrecht, A., & Kandji, S.T. (2003). Carbon sequestration in tropical agroforestry systems. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 99 (1-3), 15-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0167-8809(03)00 138-5
Ararsa, F., & Endalamaw, T. (2024). Carbon sequestration potential of coffee-based Agro-Forestry systems in Nono Sale Forest, Southwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 12(2), 44–53. https://doi.org/ 10.11648/j.ijepp.20241202.12
Betemariyam, M., Negash, M., & Worku, A. (2020). Comparative analysis of carbon stocks in home garden and adjacent coffee-based agroforestry systems in Ethiopia, Small-scale Forestry, 19(3), 319-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-020-09439 -4
Brown, S.A., Gillespie, J.R., & Lugo, A.E. (1989). Biomass Estimation Methods for Tropical Forests with Applications to Forest Inventory Data. Forest Science, 35(4), 881–902. https://doi.org/10.1093 /forestscience/35.4.881
CSA [Central Statistical Agency]. (2013). Population projection of Ethiopia for all regions at Woreda Level from 2014 – 2017ʹ. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. http://www.csa.gov.et
Denu, D., Platts, P.J, Kelbessa, E, Gole, T.W., & Marchant. R. (2016). The role of traditional coffee management in forest conservation and carbon storage in the Jimma Highlands, Ethiopia. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods, 25(4),226-238. https: //doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2016.1192004
Gebeyehu, G., Soromessa, T., & Teketay, D. (2017). Organic Carbon Stocks, Dynamics and Restoration in Relation to Soils of Agroecosystems in Ethiopia: A review. International Journal of Environment, 6(1),1-22. doi:10.3126/ije.v6i1.16864
Getachew, T., Erika, Z., & Carol, S.H. (2014). Effects of land-use changes on woody species distribution and above-ground carbon storage of forest-coffee systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 197(1), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.a gee.2014.07.008
Gemeda, D.O., Korecha, D., & Garedew, W. (2021). Evidences of climate change presences in the wettest parts of southwest Ethiopia. Heliyon,7(9), 1-13. https://doi. org/ 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021 .e08009
Hager, A. (2012). The effects of management and plant diversity on carbon storage in coffee agroforestry systems in Costa Rica. Agroforestry Systems, 86 (2), 159–174. DOI:10.1007/s10457-012-9545-1
IPCC, 2014: Summary for policymakers. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, D.J. Dokken, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L.White (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1-32. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/ uploads/2018/03/ar5_wgII_spm_en-1.pdf
MacDicken, K.G. (1997). A Guide to Monitoring Carbon Storage in Forestry and Agroforestry Projects. Arlington, VA: Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development. Forest Carbon Monitoring Program. https://ntrl.ntis. gov/NTRL/dashboard/searchResults/titleDetail/PB99143257.xhtml
Nair, P.K.R. (2012). Carbon sequestration studies in agroforestry systems: a reality-check. Agroforest Syst, 86 (2), 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9434-z
Negash, M., & Starr, M. (2015). Biomass and soil carbon stocks of indigenous agroforestry systems on the south-eastern Rift Valley escarpment, Ethiopia. Plant and Soil, 393(1-2), 95-107. https://doi. org/10.1007/s11104-015-2469-6
Niguse, G., Iticha, B., Kebede, G., & Chimdi, A. (2022). Contribution of coffee plants to carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems of Southwestern Ethiopia. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 160(6), 440–447. https://doi.org/10.1017 /s0021 859622000624
Pearson, T., Walker, S., & Brown, S. (2005). Sourcebook for land-use, land-use change and forestry projects. Arlington, (1),19–35. https://winrock.org/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/03/Winrock-BioCarbonFundSource book-compressed.pdf
Pearson, T., Brown, S., Birdsey, R. (2007). Measurement guidelines for the sequestration of forest carbon Northern research station: Department of Agriculture Washington D.C. 6–15. https://doi.org/10.2737/NRS-GTR-18
Pramulya, R., Dahlan, D., Asy’Ari, R., Gustawan, A. H., Dzulfigar, A., Novita, E., Sutrisno, A., & Rahmah, D. M. (2025). Assessment of Gayo Agroforestry coffee characteristics and carbon stock Potential in Mumuger Social Forestry Area, Central Aceh Regency. Trees Forests and People, 100818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.202 5.100818
Schmitt, C., & Grote, U. (2006). Wild Coffee Production in Ethiopia: The Role of Coffee Certification for Forest Conservation. Bonn: German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. http://www.unece.lsu.edu/certificate_eccos/documents/2007July/ce_023.pdf
Senbeta, F., & Denich, M. (2006). Effects of Wild Coffee Management on Species Diversity in the Afromontane Rainforests of Ethiopia. Forest Ecology and Management, 23(2), 68-74. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.05.064
Seta, T., & Demissew, S. (2014). Diversity and standing carbon stocks of native agroforestry trees in Wenago district, Ethiopia. J Emerg Trends Eng Appl Sci, (5), 125–137.www.internationalscholarsjourn als.org © International Scholars Journals
Tadesse, A.B.M (2015). Estimation of carbon stored in agroforestry practices in Gununo Watershed, Wolayitta Zone, Ethiopia. Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography, 05(01). https://doi.org/10.4172/2157-762 5. 1000157
Tesfaye, M.A., Bravo-Oviedo, A., Bravo, F., Pando, V., & De Aza, C.H. (2019). Variation in carbon concentration and wood density for five most commonly grown native tree species in central highlands of Ethiopia: The case of Chilimo dry Afromontane forest. Journal of Sustainable Forestry, 38(8), 769-790. https://doi.org/10.1080/10549811.2019.1607754
Tesfay, F., Moges, Y., & Asfaw, Z. (2022). Woody Species Composition, Structure, and Carbon Stock of Coffee-Based Agroforestry System along an Elevation Gradient in the Moist Mid-Highlands of Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Forestry Research, 20(22), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4729336
Van, N. M. (2002). Scaling trade-offs between crop productivity, carbon stocks and biodiversity in shifting cultivation landscape mosaics: the FALLOW model. Ecol Modell, 149, 113–126. https ://doi.org/10.1016/S0304 -3800(01)00518 –X
Walkley, A.J., & Black, I.A. (1934). Estimation of soil organic carbon by the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 37, 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Science, Technology and Arts Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
STAR © 2023 Copyright; All rights reserved
