Comparison of Carbon Stocks along an Elevation Gradient in Furi Forest, Central Ethiopia

This study was conducted in Furi forest of central Ethiopia. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate total carbon stocks along an elevation gradient of Furi forest. Plant biomass and their carbon stock were organized along altitudinal gradient in different layers. A total of 48 quadrats of 20m x 20 m was laid at Lower altitude (LA), Middle altitude (MA) and Upper altitude(UA) of the forest with three horizontal transect and at 50m altitude interval  were employed to collect the data. Soil samples were collected from two soil profiles (0-30cm and 30-60 cm) to analyze the soil bulk density (BD) and carbon percentage (%C). Valuation of aboveground and belowground biomass and carbon stocks were done and the results were analyzed statically in one-way ANOVA. Aboveground and belowground carbon stocks were significantly higher in MA gradient with 58.74 tonha-1 and 11.74 ton ha-1, respectively. However, UA had the lowest (P 0.05) AGC (49.76 ton ha-1) and BGC (9.95 ton ha-1) than others. Dead wood carbon was only found in the LA and MA altitudinal gradients. However, there was no significant difference in dead wood carbon (DWC). Lower altitude (LA), MA and UA had significant SOC value for both upper (0-30cm) and lower (30-60) layers.