Allometric Models for Biomass Estimation in Savanna Woodland Area, Niger State, Nigeria
The development of allometric models is crucial to
accurate forest biomass/carbon stock assessment. The aim of this
study was to develop a set of biomass prediction models that will
enable the determination of total tree aboveground biomass for
savannah woodland area in Niger State, Nigeria. Based on the data
collected through biometric measurements of 1816 trees and
destructive sampling of 36 trees, five species specific and one site
specific models were developed. The sample size was distributed
equally between the five most dominant species in the study site
(Vitellaria paradoxa, Irvingia gabonensis, Parkia biglobosa,
Anogeissus leiocarpus, Pterocarpus erinaceous). Firstly, the
equations were developed for five individual species. Secondly these
five species were mixed and were used to develop an allometric
equation of mixed species. Overall, there was a strong positive
relationship between total tree biomass and the stem diameter. The
coefficient of determination (R2 values) ranging from 0.93 to 0.99 P
< 0.001 were realised for the models; with considerable low standard
error of the estimates (SEE) which confirms that the total tree above
ground biomass has a significant relationship with the dbh. F-test
values for the biomass prediction models were also significant at p <
0.001 which indicates that the biomass prediction models are valid.
This study recommends that for improved biomass estimates in the
study site, the site specific biomass models should preferably be used
instead of using generic models.
[1] UNFCCC (2006). Report of the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Montreal, UNFCCC: 103.
[2] IPCC, (2006). IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories. Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme. Edited by H.S. Eggleston, L Buendia, K Miwa, T Ngara
and K Tanabe. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan.
[3] Brown, S., (1997). Estimating Biomass and Biomass Change of Tropical
Forest: A Primer Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United
Nations (FAO), Rome.
[4] Ketterings, Q.M., Coe, R., van Noordwijk, M., Ambagau, Y. and Palm,
C.A., (2001). Reducing uncertainty in the use of allometric biomass
equations for predicting above-ground tree biomass in mixed secondary
forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 146(1-3): 199-209.
[5] Brown, S., Gillespie A. and Lugo A.E. (1989). ‘Biomass estimation
methods for tropical forests with applications to forest inventory data’
In: Forest Science. 35 881–902
[6] Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M.A., Chambers, J.Q., Eamus,
D., Fölster, H., Fromard, F., Higuchi, N., Kira, T., Lescure, J.-P.,
Nelson, B., Ogawa, H., Puig, H., Riéra, B. & Yamakura, T.( 2005). Tree
allometry and improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in
tropical forests. Oecologia. 145: 87–99.
[7] Návar, J., 2009. Allometric equations for tree species and carbon stocks
for forests of northwestern Mexico. Forest Ecology and Management
257, 427-434.
[8] Cao, M. K., Q. F. Zhang, and H. H. Shugart. (2001). ‘Dynamic
responses of African ecosystem carbon cycling to climate change’. In:
Climate Research 17:183-193.
[9] Bombelli, A., Henry, M., Castaldi, S., Adu-Bredu, S., Arneth, A., De
Grandcourt, A., Grieco, E., Kutsch, W.L., Lehsten, V., Rasile, A.,
Reichstein, M., Tansey, K., Weber Valentini, R., (2009). The Sub-
Saharan Africa carbon balance, an overview. In: Biogeosciences
Discussions 6, 2085–2123.
[10] Gibbs, H.K., Brown, S., Niles, J.O. and Foley, J.A. (2007) Monitoring
and estimating tropical forest carbon stocks: making REDD a reality. In:
Environmental Research Letters (2).
[11] Brown, S. and A. E. Lugo, (1982) The storage and production of organic
matter in tropical forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. In:
Biotropica 14: 161-187.
[12] Brown, S. and A. E. Lugo, (1984) Biomass of tropical forests: A new
estimate based on forest volumes. Science 223:1290-1293
[13] Brown, S. and Lugo, A. E. (1992). ‘Above ground biomass estimates for
tropical moist forests of the Brazilian Amazo’. In: Interciencia 17:8-18.
[14] Brown, S. and Schroeder, P. E. (1999). ‘Spatial patterns of aboveground
production and mortality of woody biomass for eastern U.S. forests’, In:
Ecological Application 9, 968–980.
[15] Huxley, J. S. (1924) Constant differential growth-ratios and their
significance. In: Nature 114; 895.
[16] Huxley, J. S. (1932) Problems of Relative Growth. Methuen & Co., Ltd
London
[17] Huxley, J.S., (1993). Problems of relative growth. With a new
introduction by Frederick B. Churchill and essay by Richard E. John
Hopkins University Press. London.
[18] Ojo, O. (1977). The climates of West Africa. London: Heinemann
[19] FORMECU (1994). Forest Management Evaluation and Co-ordinating
Unit (1994) World Bank/Government of Nigeria Forestry III project
Vol. VI Environmental Assessment, Forest Management Component,
kpashimi Forest Reserve, Final Draft.
[20] Areola, O., (1978). Soil and vegetation resources of Nigeria. In: A
geography of Nigerian development, (ed. Oguntoyinbo et al.)
Heinemann Education Books Nigeria Limited.
[21] Jaiyeoba, I.A. and Essoka, P.E.(2006). ‘Soils and Vegetation’ In: The
Middle Niger River Basin : A field course hand book. Department of
Geography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
[22] Keay R.W. J. (1953), An outline of Nigerian Vegetation, 2nd Edition,
Government Printed, Lagos
[23] Cottam G. & Curtis J.T.(1956). The use of distance measurements in
phytosociological sampling. Ecology 37: 451-460.
[24] Sokal, R.R. and Rohlf, F.J., (1995). Biometry: the principles and
practice of statistics in biological research. Third Edition, W.H. Freeman
and Company, New York.
[25] Arevalo, C.B.M., Volk, T.A., Bevilacqua, E. and Abrahamson, L.,
(2007). Development and validation of aboveground biomass
estimations for four Salix clones in central New York. Biomass and
Bioenergy, 31(1): 1-12. Asner.
[26] Senelwa, K. and R. E. H. Sims. (1998). Tree biomass equations for short
rotation Eucalyptus grown in New Zealand. Biomass and Bioenergy 13:
133- 140.
[1] UNFCCC (2006). Report of the Conference of the Parties serving as the
meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Montreal, UNFCCC: 103.
[2] IPCC, (2006). IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories. Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme. Edited by H.S. Eggleston, L Buendia, K Miwa, T Ngara
and K Tanabe. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan.
[3] Brown, S., (1997). Estimating Biomass and Biomass Change of Tropical
Forest: A Primer Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United
Nations (FAO), Rome.
[4] Ketterings, Q.M., Coe, R., van Noordwijk, M., Ambagau, Y. and Palm,
C.A., (2001). Reducing uncertainty in the use of allometric biomass
equations for predicting above-ground tree biomass in mixed secondary
forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 146(1-3): 199-209.
[5] Brown, S., Gillespie A. and Lugo A.E. (1989). ‘Biomass estimation
methods for tropical forests with applications to forest inventory data’
In: Forest Science. 35 881–902
[6] Chave, J., Andalo, C., Brown, S., Cairns, M.A., Chambers, J.Q., Eamus,
D., Fölster, H., Fromard, F., Higuchi, N., Kira, T., Lescure, J.-P.,
Nelson, B., Ogawa, H., Puig, H., Riéra, B. & Yamakura, T.( 2005). Tree
allometry and improved estimation of carbon stocks and balance in
tropical forests. Oecologia. 145: 87–99.
[7] Návar, J., 2009. Allometric equations for tree species and carbon stocks
for forests of northwestern Mexico. Forest Ecology and Management
257, 427-434.
[8] Cao, M. K., Q. F. Zhang, and H. H. Shugart. (2001). ‘Dynamic
responses of African ecosystem carbon cycling to climate change’. In:
Climate Research 17:183-193.
[9] Bombelli, A., Henry, M., Castaldi, S., Adu-Bredu, S., Arneth, A., De
Grandcourt, A., Grieco, E., Kutsch, W.L., Lehsten, V., Rasile, A.,
Reichstein, M., Tansey, K., Weber Valentini, R., (2009). The Sub-
Saharan Africa carbon balance, an overview. In: Biogeosciences
Discussions 6, 2085–2123.
[10] Gibbs, H.K., Brown, S., Niles, J.O. and Foley, J.A. (2007) Monitoring
and estimating tropical forest carbon stocks: making REDD a reality. In:
Environmental Research Letters (2).
[11] Brown, S. and A. E. Lugo, (1982) The storage and production of organic
matter in tropical forests and their role in the global carbon cycle. In:
Biotropica 14: 161-187.
[12] Brown, S. and A. E. Lugo, (1984) Biomass of tropical forests: A new
estimate based on forest volumes. Science 223:1290-1293
[13] Brown, S. and Lugo, A. E. (1992). ‘Above ground biomass estimates for
tropical moist forests of the Brazilian Amazo’. In: Interciencia 17:8-18.
[14] Brown, S. and Schroeder, P. E. (1999). ‘Spatial patterns of aboveground
production and mortality of woody biomass for eastern U.S. forests’, In:
Ecological Application 9, 968–980.
[15] Huxley, J. S. (1924) Constant differential growth-ratios and their
significance. In: Nature 114; 895.
[16] Huxley, J. S. (1932) Problems of Relative Growth. Methuen & Co., Ltd
London
[17] Huxley, J.S., (1993). Problems of relative growth. With a new
introduction by Frederick B. Churchill and essay by Richard E. John
Hopkins University Press. London.
[18] Ojo, O. (1977). The climates of West Africa. London: Heinemann
[19] FORMECU (1994). Forest Management Evaluation and Co-ordinating
Unit (1994) World Bank/Government of Nigeria Forestry III project
Vol. VI Environmental Assessment, Forest Management Component,
kpashimi Forest Reserve, Final Draft.
[20] Areola, O., (1978). Soil and vegetation resources of Nigeria. In: A
geography of Nigerian development, (ed. Oguntoyinbo et al.)
Heinemann Education Books Nigeria Limited.
[21] Jaiyeoba, I.A. and Essoka, P.E.(2006). ‘Soils and Vegetation’ In: The
Middle Niger River Basin : A field course hand book. Department of
Geography, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
[22] Keay R.W. J. (1953), An outline of Nigerian Vegetation, 2nd Edition,
Government Printed, Lagos
[23] Cottam G. & Curtis J.T.(1956). The use of distance measurements in
phytosociological sampling. Ecology 37: 451-460.
[24] Sokal, R.R. and Rohlf, F.J., (1995). Biometry: the principles and
practice of statistics in biological research. Third Edition, W.H. Freeman
and Company, New York.
[25] Arevalo, C.B.M., Volk, T.A., Bevilacqua, E. and Abrahamson, L.,
(2007). Development and validation of aboveground biomass
estimations for four Salix clones in central New York. Biomass and
Bioenergy, 31(1): 1-12. Asner.
[26] Senelwa, K. and R. E. H. Sims. (1998). Tree biomass equations for short
rotation Eucalyptus grown in New Zealand. Biomass and Bioenergy 13:
133- 140.
@article{"International Journal of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences:69476", author = "Abdullahi Jibrin and Aishetu Abdulkadir", title = "Allometric Models for Biomass Estimation in Savanna Woodland Area, Niger State, Nigeria", abstract = "The development of allometric models is crucial to
accurate forest biomass/carbon stock assessment. The aim of this
study was to develop a set of biomass prediction models that will
enable the determination of total tree aboveground biomass for
savannah woodland area in Niger State, Nigeria. Based on the data
collected through biometric measurements of 1816 trees and
destructive sampling of 36 trees, five species specific and one site
specific models were developed. The sample size was distributed
equally between the five most dominant species in the study site
(Vitellaria paradoxa, Irvingia gabonensis, Parkia biglobosa,
Anogeissus leiocarpus, Pterocarpus erinaceous). Firstly, the
equations were developed for five individual species. Secondly these
five species were mixed and were used to develop an allometric
equation of mixed species. Overall, there was a strong positive
relationship between total tree biomass and the stem diameter. The
coefficient of determination (R2 values) ranging from 0.93 to 0.99 P
< 0.001 were realised for the models; with considerable low standard
error of the estimates (SEE) which confirms that the total tree above
ground biomass has a significant relationship with the dbh. F-test
values for the biomass prediction models were also significant at p ", keywords = "Allometriy, biomass, carbon stock, model,
regression equation, woodland, inventory.", volume = "9", number = "4", pages = "269-9", }
