Assessment of above ground biomass of Trees outside Forest (TOF) in the Context of Climate Change

Biomass burning in Northern Ghana is a major cause for concern because of its potential contribution to global warming, hence climate change. This study assessed the emission of trace gases from human activities in the Guinea savanna of Northern Ghana using the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Carbon content of biomass was determined from four different vegetation covers in the study area; namely, widely open savanna woodland, grass/herb with scattered trees, open savanna woodland and closed savanna woodland. Under each vegetation cover, five plots (1 m x 1 m) were demarcated for the estimation of above-ground biomass density. Using the combustion furnace method, emitted carbon, methane and carbon monoxide were estimated. Results showed that the emitted methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO) differed significantly (p<0.05) under all the vegetation types. The gases were in perfect correlation (r=1.00) with the quantity of above-ground biomass density and carbon released, with more CO being emitted. Emission of CH4 and CO per hectare of burnt area in the open savanna woodland category was the highest with 0.001719 ton and 0.045119 ton respectively. Over time, emission of these gases may increase their atmospheric concentration, causing major health problems. The contribution to global warming, thus climate change, may also become quite significant. This underscores the fact that existing flaws in the wild fire management policy of Ghana must be effectively dealt with and appropriately implemented with regular reviews to reduce the annual wild fires that are very rampant in Northern Ghana, especially during the dry season.

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Growth and yield response of winter wheat to soil warming and rainfall patterns

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859610000419 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 148 (5) ◽

pp. 553-566 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

R. H. PATIL ◽

M. LAEGDSMAND ◽

J. E. OLESEN ◽

J. R. PORTER

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Winter Wheat ◽

Rainfall Amount ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Soil Warming ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Rainfall Frequency ◽

Crop Development

SUMMARYIt is predicted that climate change will increase not only seasonal air and soil temperatures in northern Europe but also the variability of rainfall patterns. This may influence temporal soil moisture regimes and the growth and yield of winter wheat. A lysimeter experiment was carried out in 2008/09 with three factors: rainfall amount, rainfall frequency and soil warming (two levels in each factor), on sandy loam soil in Denmark. The soil warming treatment included non-heated as the control and an increase in soil temperature by 5°C at 100 mm depth as heated. The rainfall treatment included the site mean for 1961–90 as the control and the projected monthly mean change for 2071–2100 under the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) A2 scenario for the climate change treatment. Projected monthly mean changes in rainfall compared to the reference period 1961–90 show, on average, 31% increase during winter (November–March) and 24% decrease during summer (July–September) with no changes during spring (April–June). The rainfall frequency treatment included mean monthly rainy days for 1961–90 as the control and a reduced frequency treatment with only half the number of rainy days of the control treatment, without altering the monthly mean rainfall amount. Mobile rain-out shelters, automated irrigation system and insulated heating cables were used to impose the treatments.Soil warming hastened crop development during early stages (until stem elongation) and shortened the total crop growing season by 12 days without reducing the period taken for later development stages. Soil warming increased green leaf area index (GLAI) and above-ground biomass during early growth, which was accompanied by an increased amount of nitrogen (N) in plants. However, the plant N concentration and its dilution pattern during later developmental stages followed the same pattern in both heated and control plots. Increased soil moisture deficit was observed only during the period when crop growth was significantly enhanced by soil warming. However, soil warming reduced N concentration in above-ground biomass during the entire growing period, except at harvest, by advancing crop development. Soil warming had no effect on the number of tillers, but reduced ear number and increased 1000 grain weight. This did not affect grain yield and total above-ground biomass compared with control. This suggests that genotypes with a longer vegetative period would probably be better adapted to future warmer conditions. The rainfall pattern treatments imposed in the present study did not influence either soil moisture regimes or performance of winter wheat, though the crop receiving future rainfall amount tended to retain more green leaf area. There was no significant interaction between the soil warming and rainfall treatments on crop growth.

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Detection of large above-ground biomass variability in lowland forest ecosystems by airborne LiDAR

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-10-3917-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 3917-3930 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

J. Jubanski ◽

U. Ballhorn ◽

K. Kronseder ◽

F. Siegert ◽

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Models ◽

Forest Type ◽

Airborne Lidar ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Inventory Data ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Change Models ◽

Ground Biomass

Abstract. Quantification of tropical forest above-ground biomass (AGB) over large areas as input for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) projects and climate change models is challenging. This is the first study which attempts to estimate AGB and its variability across large areas of tropical lowland forests in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia) through correlating airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to forest inventory data. Two LiDAR height metrics were analysed, and regression models could be improved through the use of LiDAR point densities as input (R2 = 0.88; n = 52). Surveying with a LiDAR point density per square metre of about 4 resulted in the best cost / benefit ratio. We estimated AGB for 600 km of LiDAR tracks and showed that there exists a considerable variability of up to 140% within the same forest type due to varying environmental conditions. Impact from logging operations and the associated AGB losses dating back more than 10 yr could be assessed by LiDAR but not by multispectral satellite imagery. Comparison with a Landsat classification for a 1 million ha study area where AGB values were based on site-specific field inventory data, regional literature estimates, and default values by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed an overestimation of 43%, 102%, and 137%, respectively. The results show that AGB overestimation may lead to wrong greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimates due to deforestation in climate models. For REDD+ projects this leads to inaccurate carbon stock estimates and consequently to significantly wrong REDD+ based compensation payments.

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Controls of plant diversity attributes over above ground biomass in Sal forests of Eastern India

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33057/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rahul Kumar ◽

Amit Kumar ◽

Purabi Saikia

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Global Climate ◽

Basal Area ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Eastern India ◽

Shorea Robusta ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Indian Forests

Abstract Background Above ground biomass (AGB) is a useful measure for assessing changes in forest structure and functional, and play a significant role in studying carbon stocks, the effect of deforestation and carbon sequestration on the global carbon balance. The present study aimed to study the relationship between AGB and community parameters in Sal forests of Eastern India through stratified random sampling by lying 92 belt transects each of 0.5 ha size. Results It recorded a high AGB (410.70 Mg ha-1), and carbon stock (Cp) (193.06 Mg C ha-1), and forest wise AGB ranged from 0.19 to 24.75 Mg ha-1 (mean 4.45 ± 0.45 SE). The spatial pattern of AGB showed that maximum studied forests (65%) had very low AGB (<5.00 Mg ha-1), and only one forests (1%) located in the northwest corner of Ranchi had very high AGB (>20 Mg ha-1). Species wise AGB ranged from 0.001 to 7074.94 Mg ha-1 (mean 106 ± 71 SE) and Shorea robusta with maximum basal area (120.81 m2 ha−1) contributed maximum AGB (64.87% of the total AGB), however, no similar trends have been observed in any other tree species. A significant positive correlation was observed between AGB and Cp (r=1.00, p<0.01), H’ (r= .58, p<0.01), Dmg (r= .31, p<0.01), Dmn (r= .49, p<0.01), ENS (r= .57, p<0.01), E (r= .26, p<0.05), and basal area (r= 0.71, p<0.05). However, a negative correlation of AGB was evident with CD (r= -.57, p<0.01), and density (r= - 0.17). Conclusions The relationships differed greatly among plant diversity attributes, basal area, density, AGB, and Cp within and among various forests and the strongest relationships within each forests were always those having greater richness (Dmg, Dmn), diversity (H, ENS), basal area or evenness (E). Estimation of forest Cp enables us to assess the amount of carbon loss during deforestation or the amount of carbon stored during forest regeneration. The present study will directly help in studying the response of climate change on ecosystem productivity, energy and nutrient flow, and for assessing the patterns of carbon sequestration in Indian forests under global climate change.

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Detection of large above ground biomass variability in lowland forest ecosystems by airborne LiDAR

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-9-11815-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 11815-11842 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. Jubanski ◽

U. Ballhorn ◽

K. Kronseder ◽

J. Franke ◽

F. Siegert

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Models ◽

Forest Type ◽

Airborne Lidar ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Inventory Data ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Lowland Forest ◽

Change Models ◽

Ground Biomass

Abstract. Quantification of tropical forest Above Ground Biomass (AGB) over large areas as input for Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) projects and climate change models is challenging. This is the first study which attempts to estimate AGB and its variability across large areas of tropical lowland forests in Central Kalimantan (Indonesia) through correlating airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) to forest inventory data. Two LiDAR height metrics were analysed and regression models could be improved through the use of LiDAR point densities as input (R2 = 0.88; n = 52). Surveying with a LiDAR point density per square meter of 2–4 resulted in the best cost-benefit ratio. We estimated AGB for 600 km of LiDAR tracks and showed that there exists a considerable variability of up to 140% within the same forest type due to varying environmental conditions. Impact from logging operations and the associated AGB losses dating back more than 10 yr could be assessed by LiDAR but not by multispectral satellite imagery. Comparison with a Landsat classification for a 1 million ha study area where AGB values were based on site specific field inventory data, regional literature estimates, and default values by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) showed an overestimation of 46%, 102%, and 137%, respectively. The results show that AGB overestimation may lead to wrong GHG emission estimates due to deforestation in climate models. For REDD+ projects this leads to inaccurate carbon stock estimates and consequently to significantly wrong REDD+ based compensation payments.

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Above-ground and Below-ground Biomass situation of Milke-Jaljale Rangeland at Different Altitudinal Gradient

Our Nature ◽

10.3126/on.v9i1.5740 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 107-111

Author(s):

D.K. Limbu ◽

M. Koirala

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

High Altitude ◽

Altitudinal Gradient ◽

Plant Density ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Carbon Reduction ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Harvesting Method ◽

Below Ground ◽

Low Altitude

Rangeland conservation has been increasingly interested for carbon reduction and mitigation of climate change, because of carbon storage. Thus, biomass of the rangeland remains pivotal regarding carbon sequestration on rangeland. Present study was conducted in high altitude rangeland at Jaljale (4000 m), Gorujure (3500 m) and Milke (3000 m) on September, 2010 with an objective to estimate rangeland biomass following the total harvesting method. Result revealed that biomass of high altitude rangeland has relatively high value (1.50 t/ha for both above ground biomass and 43.48 t/ha for below ground biomass) compared to low altitude rangeland (0.35 t/ha for above ground biomass and 16.93 t/ha for below ground biomass). Similarly, monocot plant density play crucial role for biomass contribution of rangeland.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/on.v9i1.5740

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Modeling impacts of climate change and grazing effects on plant biomass and soil organic carbon in the Qinghai–Tibetan grasslands

Biogeosciences ◽

10.5194/bg-14-5455-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (23) ◽

pp. 5455-5470 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Wenjuan Zhang ◽

Feng Zhang ◽

Jiaguo Qi ◽

Fujiang Hou

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Negative Relationship ◽

Grazing Intensity ◽

Ecosystem Change ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Ground Biomass

Abstract. The Qinghai Province supports over 40 % of the human population of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) but occupies about 29 % of its land area, and thus it plays an important role in the plateau. The dominant land cover is grassland, which has been severely degraded over the last decade due to a combination of increased human activities and climate change. Numerous studies indicate that the plateau is sensitive to recent global climate change, but the drivers and consequences of grassland ecosystem change are controversial, especially the effects of climate change and grazing patterns on the grassland biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in this region. In this study, we used the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model and two climate change scenarios (representative concentration pathways: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) to understand how the grassland biomass and SOC pools might respond to different grazing intensities under future climate change scenarios. More than 1400 grassland biomass sampling points and 46 SOC points were used to validate the simulated results. The simulated above-ground biomass and SOC concentrations were in good agreement with the measured data (R2 0.71 and 0.73 for above-ground biomass and SOC, respectively). The results showed that climate change may be the major factor that leads to fluctuations in the grassland biomass and SOC, and it explained 26.4 and 47.7 % of biomass and SOC variation, respectively. Meanwhile, the grazing intensity explained 6.4 and 2.3 % variation in biomass and SOC, respectively. The project average biomass and SOC between 2015 and 2044 was significantly smaller than past 30 years (1985–2014), and it was 191.17 g C m−2, 63.44 g C kg−1 and 183.62 g C m−2, 63.37 g C kg−1 for biomass and SOC under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. The RCP8.5 showed the more negative effect on the biomass and SOC compared with RCP4.5. Grazing intensity had a negative relationship with biomass and positive relationship with SOC. Compared with the baseline, the biomass and SOC changed by 12.56 and −0.19 % for G0, 7.23 and 0.23 for G−50, and −5.17 and 1.19 % for G+50. In the future, more human activity and management practices should be coupled into the model simulation.

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Carbon capture in three land use systems in the Colombian Amazonia

Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas ◽

10.22267/rcia.213802.160 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 111-123

Author(s):

Yelly-Yamparli Pardo-Rozo ◽

Hernán-Jair Andrade-Castañeda ◽

Jader Muñoz-Ramos ◽

Jaime-Enrique Velásquez-Restrepo

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Land Use ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽

Agroforestry Systems ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Rubber Plantations ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Temporal Sampling

The main strategies to combat climate change are reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing carbon sinks in terrestrial ecosystems such as forests, forest plantations, and agroforestry systems. Deforestation and land use changes in the Amazonia bear great responsibility both for the fixation and emission of GHG. The aim of this research was to estimate the carbon stored in above-ground biomass of forests, rubber plantations (Hevea brasiliensis Muell Arg.), and trees in pastures in the Colombian Amazonia piedmont. Data was collected in 40 farms located in the rural area of the municipality of Belén de Los Andaquíes (Colombia). A total of 174 temporal sampling plots of 250 m2 each were established (80 in forests, 40 in rubber plantations and 54 in pastures with trees). In these plots, the diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured in trees with dbh ≥ 10 cm, and the above-ground biomass was estimated with allometric models for the Colombian Amazon. The carbon stored was 154.1 Mg ha-1 in forests, 1.4 Mg ha-1 in pastures with trees and 138.9 Mg ha-1 in rubber plantations. Positive changes for mitigation of climate change could be achieved through the conversion of agricultural areas, mainly pastures, to forests (+560 Mg CO2 ha-1). Likewise, if deforestation stops in the area, the estimated emissions reduction would be 0.16 Tg CO2 year-1.

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Changes in Allometric Attributes and Biomass of Forests and Woodlands across an Altitudinal and Rainfall Gradient: What Are the Implications of Increasing Seasonality due to Anthropogenic Climate Change?

International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1155/2015/208975 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

John T. Hunter

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Basal Area ◽

Average Height ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Rainfall Gradient ◽

Study Region ◽

Hydraulic Limitation ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Eastern Australia

Canonical correspondence analysis and linear regressions were used to relate height, diameter, and dispersion measurements of 36,380 stems from 197 species recorded in 2,341 plots against both climatic and landscape variables. Above ground biomass increased in wetter and cooler locations that ameliorate the seasonal rainfall deficits. Taller and greater diameter trees with lower wood densities occur at higher altitudes. Differences between locations are based on a change in the composition of species rather than a change in the allometric properties within a species. The results support the hydraulic limitation and species packing hypotheses. These interrelationships may be affected by the interactions of fire frequency and drought which are a common feature of much of the study area. Under current climate change scenarios it is likely that there will be a reduction in above ground biomass, the number of stems per hectare, average height, average diameter, and basal area due to increasing seasonality of rainfall, temperatures, and the intensity and frequency of fires. The largest of trees are likely to be removed early due to their inability to cope with increased drought stress. The results suggest a marked reduction in carbon storage will occur across the study region in eastern Australia.

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Assessment of Above-Ground Biomass in Pakistan Forest Ecosystem’s Carbon Pool: A Review

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 586

Author(s):

Ishfaq Ahmad Khan ◽

Waseem Razzaq Khan ◽

Anwar Ali ◽

Mohd Nazre

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Kyoto Protocol ◽

Carbon Stock ◽

National Level ◽

Well Being ◽

Forest Carbon ◽

Above Ground Biomass ◽

Forest Types ◽

Ground Biomass ◽

Stock Estimation

Climate change is acknowledged as a global threat to the environment and human well-being. Forest ecosystems are a significant factor in this regard as they act both as a sink and a source of carbon. Forest carbon evaluation has received more attention after the Paris Agreement. Pakistan has 5.1% forest cover of its total land area, which comprises nine forest types. This study covers the studies conducted on above-ground biomass and carbon stock in various forest types of Pakistan. Most of the studies on biomass and carbon stock estimation have been conducted during 2015–2020. The non-destructive method is mostly followed for carbon stock estimation, followed by remote sensing. The destructive method is used only for developing allometric equations and biomass expansion factors. The information available on the carbon stock and biomass of Pakistan forest types is fragmented and sporadic. Coniferous forests are more important in carbon sequestration and can play a vital role in mitigating climate change. Pakistan is a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol and still lacks regional and national level studies on biomass and carbon stock, which are necessary for reporting under the Kyoto Protocol. This study will help researchers and decision-makers to develop policies regarding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks

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