ABSTRACT
FLORISTICS, CARBON STOCK QUANTIFICATION AND SEQUESTRATION ABILITY OF AN ENCROACHED FOREST IN AKWA IBOM STATE UNIVERSITY, IKOT AKPADEN, SOUTHERN NIGERIA
Journal: Environment & Ecosystem Science (EES)
Author: Richard Ekeng Ita, Felix Okpako Ogbemudia, Emem Okon Mbong
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
DOI: 10.26480/ees.01.2023.30.35
This study assessed the floristics, carbon stock and sequestration ability of an encroached forest in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria. Ten plots within the forest were chosen and ten belt transects were established. Trees species were identified in each plot. Litter boxes were placed in each plot at 10 m for litter collection. Soils were collected from the plots at different depths. AGB (aboveground biomass), BGB (belowground biomass), AGC (aboveground carbon) and BGC (belowground carbon) were calculated using appropriate allometric equations. Twenty-two woody species were present in the forest. The values for AGB, AGC, BGM and BGC were 119.31 Mg ha-1, 59.65 Mg C.ha-1, 24.46 Mg ha-1 and 12.23 Mg C.ha-1, each. The total carbon stock (TCS) and biomass in the litter were 9.37 MgCha-1 and 20 Mg ha-1, respectively. The carbon stock in the litter followed this order: leaf (4.10±0.08 Mg C.ha-1) > twigs (3.02±0.04 Mg C.ha-1) > fine root (2.25±0.01 Mg C.ha-1). The TCS in the soil was 33.73 MgCha-1 and followed this decreasing trend: 0-15 cm (23.80±2.65 MgCha-1) > 0 – 30 cm (9.93±1.02 MgCha-1). The TCS and carbon sequestration ability (CSA) of this forest were 125.61 Mg C.ha-1 and 458.31 Mg CO2ha-1. The CSA of this forest followed this decreasing order: AGC pool (218.92 Mg CO2ha-1) > soil (121.11 Mg CO2ha-1) > litter (73.40 Mg CO2ha-1) > BGC pool (44.88 Mg CO2ha-1). These results validate this forest as having a considerable carbon sequestration ability, though, this ability is threatened by human disturbances.
| Pages | 30-35 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Volume | 7 |
