WOODY SPECIES DIVERSITY AND CARBON STOCK OF SCATTERED TREES ON FARMLAND ALONG ELEVATION GRADIENT IN GEMECHIS DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA, ETHIOPIA

Scattered trees within farmland are common land-use in Ethiopia and many parts of the tropics. These systems play an important role in climate change mitigation and adaptation, through carbon sequestration. Therefore, in the eastern part a little information compiled, generally and specifically in the study district don’t any information available concerning woody species diversity of scattered trees on farmland and its role in carbon sequestration. This study objectives, was conducted to assess woody species diversity and carbon stock of scattered trees on farmland along elevation gradient in Gemechis district. In order to achieve these objectives, the data of woody species inventory was carried out on 27 plots (each 100mx100m) on farmland. A data was administered to gather information on woody species and soil analyzed using SPSS version 20 at 5% significance level. For woody species ≥5cm DBH, measurements of DBH and trees height were taken. Woody density, frequency, basal area and importance value were computed to characterize structure of woody species. Species diversity and biomass carbon were also determined. Biomass carbon was estimated using allometric equations. The study indicated that the woody species diversity indices were higher at Kuni Segeriya and the lowest at Ela Oda. The scattered trees in farmland in the study area have stored 280.62 Mt C ha–1 and 31.18±1.35 Mt C ha–1 total carbon stock and mean carbon stock, respectively. The woody species in farmland stored relatively higher aboveground carbon which could help in climate change mitigation. Therefore, paying equal attention to woody species in farmland as to forest is a better solution in reducing carbon emission.