Biomass and soil carbon stocks under different coffee agroforestry systems in Hurumu District, southwest Ethiopia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: 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.
Authors: Legesse, Getahun, Tadesse, Solomon
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7104536224