Tree species Diversity and Aboveground carbon stocks of Homegarden Agroforestry in Buchach Kebele, Cheha District, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Home garden are traditional agroforestry practices characterized by the complexity of their structure with multiple functions and can be defined as ‘land use system involving deliberate management of multipurpose trees and shrubs in intimate association with annual and perennial agricultural crops and invariably livestock within the compounds of individual houses, the whole tree-crop animal unit being intensively managed by family labor. The study was undertaken in tree species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks of Home garden Agroforestry in Buchach kebele of Cheha district. In order to achieve the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data were generated by employing a descriptive statistic. Simple random sampling was applied to select the sample households to get representative informants whereas purposive sampling was used to select inventory sample of study area. The process of analysis of the study was carried out using descriptive statistic, quantitative indices of species diversity, richness and evenness were measured using diversity index formula by Shannon wiener diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index. Allometric equation were used to analysis the carbon sequestration potential of Home garden agroforestry. the findings of this study indicated that Homegarden agroforestry in the study area have high potential in carbon stock (ranging from 1.0 to 36.87 Mg C ha -1) with a mean value of 6.838 Mg C ha-1. and main area of ex-situ conservation of tree species like cordia africana. The results show a vast heterogeneity in terms of carbon stock and tree diversity within the less studied home gardens of study area; results that contribute to more knowledge of their expansion potential as well as climate mitigation and adaptation potentials