Aboveground biomass, carbon storage and fuel values of Bambusa vulgaris, Oxynanteria abbyssinica and Bambusa vulgaris var.vitata plantations in the Bobiri forest reserve of Ghana

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the stand distribution of Bambusa vulgaris, Oxynanteria abbyssinica, and Bambusa vulgaris var. vitata; estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon storage in different components of the bamboo species; develop allometric models to estimate the AGB of the bamboo species and, compare the fuel values of raw and carbonized culms of the bamboo species grown in the Bobiri forest reserve of Ghana. B. vulgaris was the most efficient at aboveground biomass accumulation. The AGB stored in the bamboo was 61% higher in B. vulgaris (115 t ha⁻¹) than in B. vulgaris var. vitata (71 t ha⁻¹) and was 27-fold that of O. abbyssinica. B. vulgaris would take a relatively shorter time (about 14, 9 and 2.4 years, respectively) to attain the stocking of carbon of the intact swamp forests, degraded forests and deforested areas in Ghana. Enriching degraded forests and deforested areas with such a bamboo species could be an effective means of increasing the carbon sequestration potential of such ecosystems. Carbonized bamboos were 27–57% higher in energy intensity than the raw bamboos. Intensification of bamboo plantation in Ghana can potentially contribute substantially to carbon mitigation and sustainable energy production.

KEYWORDS:

• Bamboo species
• biomass and carbon estimation
• allometric model
• carbonized bamboo
• gross calorific value