Browsing by Author "Shadrack, Masanja"

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    Development and use of allometric models for carbon sequestration and storage analysis of two coastal forest tree species in Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2019) Shadrack, Masanja
    The present study was conducted to develop tree species specific allometric models and compare carbon storage and sequestration potential of two lowland tree species i.e Sclerocarya caffra and Ptelepsis myrtifolia. Since, species allometric equations have been largely developed in Miombo woodlands in Tanzania? It was decided that more studies should focus on developing species allometric models for lowland species so as to be able to assess the contribution of lowland tree species to national and global vegetation carbon stocks as well as in mitigation initiatives. Allometric model development involved the use of destructive sampling of 64 trees from which 30 trees for S caffra and 34 trees for P myrtifolia were sampled from 28 plots. Field measurements of stem diameter (dbh) and height (ht) were carried out using a caliper and clinometer respectively. The mean diameter at breast height (dbh) and height (ht) for Sclerocarya caffra were 29.22cm (range 10.1-57cm) and 11.55m (range 5.9-20.7) and for Ptleopsis myrtifolia were 24.8cm (10.2-45.7) and 11.16m (5.8-18cm) respectively. The best fit allometric equations for above ground biomass (AGB) used diameter at breast height (dbh) as the only predictor variable with coefficient fo determination r2=0.96, RES=56.3 and AIC=378.5 for Sclerocarya caffra and r2=0.93, RSE=124.5 AIC=374.5 for Pteleopsis myrtifolia respectively. Based on the species specific allometric equations so developed the estimated carbon storage and sequestration were respectively found to be 317.03Kg C tree-1yr-1 for Pteleopsis myrtifolia tree species. Tissues carbon was analysed using CHN Elemental Analyser Model EA 11008 and was found to be 41.46% for Pteleopsis myrtifolia.