Environmental determinants of tree productivity and biomass carbon stock in semiarid Ethiopia

Publication Type

Journal Article

Name of Author

• Haftu Abrha, Institute of Climate and Society, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
• Victor Ongoma, International Water Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
• Soro Dodiomon, African Center of Excellence in Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture, University of Felix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
• Berihu Tesfamariam, Ethiopian Forest Development, Mekelle Center,Mekelle, Ethiopia
• Girmay Gebresamuel, Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
• Haftom Hagos, Institute of Climate and Society, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
• Mamadou Cherif, African Center of Excellence in Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture, University of Felix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
• Emiru Birhane, Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia

Publication Date (Issue Year)

2025

Journal Name

Discover Sustainability

Abstract

Trees are crucial for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Assessing their ability at the individual tree level is effective because it allows precise quantification of carbon storage, which supports better management and conservation strategies for climate change responses. This study quantifies the carbon stock of Dobera glabra and examines how environmental factors such as land-use changes, soil properties, and tree size affect fruit occurrence in Ethiopia. Using a systematic random sampling design, 25 plots (20 m × 20 m) per land use type were established, where presence, tree growth, fruit and soil properties were measured. Logistic regression examined relationships between fruit occurrence and environmental variables, while Kruskal-Wallis tests compared biomass between fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees. Results showed fruit frequency was 100% in riverine areas but only 26% in grazing lands (p <  0.05). Soil cation exchange capacity, silt content, and slope showed significant effect on fruiting (p <  0.05). The average carbon stock was 7.135 ± 6.277 ton/ha in riverine land and 1.085 ± 1.098 ton/ha in grazing land. Fruit-bearing trees (4.45 ± 2.83 kg) had significantly higher total biomass than non-fruit-bearing (1.03 ± 0.73 kg) (p <  0.001), indicating greater carbon sequestration potential. These findings highlight the importance of assessing carbon stocks and reproductive status at the individual tree level to effectively link climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Conservation and restoration of riverbanks with Dobera glabra can enhance ecosystem services and resilience in arid and semi-arid landscapes.

Keywords

Environmental determinants, tree productivity, biomass carbon stock, semi-arid Ethiopia

Grantee Name(s)

Haftu Abrha

Funding Statement

The work was carried out with the financial support of the Carnegie Corporation on New York to the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) DOCTAS project, through the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Grant Ref. G-22-59858. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the donors.

Recommended Citation

Abrha, H., Ongoma, V., Dodiomon, S., Tesfamariam, B., Gebresamuel, G., Hagos, H., Cherif, M., & Birhane, E. (2025). Environmental determinants of tree productivity and biomass carbon stock in semiarid Ethiopia. Discover Sustainability https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-02581-z