Evaluation of the aerial carbon stock of Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel in the northern Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso

Abstract

In the REDD context estimates of forest carbon stocks are essential to determine the contribution of plant species to climate change mitigation. This involves estimating the biomass stock potential of plants. The present study was carried out in a 20-year old Guiera senegalensis-dominated fallow on a ferruginous soil in the northern Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso. Using the direct method, 90 individuals of G. senegalensis were felled in three circumference classes representing juveniles, individuals of the intermediate class and seedlings of the species. The G. senegalensis fallow stored an average of 0.82, 0.43 and 0.35 tC/ha aerially for juveniles, intermediate class individuals and seedlings, respectively. There is a strong correlation between the dry biomass of G. senegalensis and the circumference at the base of the trunk. The equations used are: Y = 0.16*Exp (0.18*Cb) -0.19 for juveniles; Y = 3.30*Log10(Cb)-2.52 for intermediates and Y = 20.67*Log10 (Cb)-20.33 for seedlings These equations established in can be used to estimate carbon stocks of various types of G. senegalensis individuals in lieu of multispecies models.