TITLE:
Biomass Prediction Equation for Colophospermum mopane (Mopane) in Botswana
AUTHORS:
Patrick S. Mutakela, Joyce P. Lepetu, Gofaone Rammotokara, Melusi Rampart, Sarah Assem Ibrahim
KEYWORDS:
Botswana, Colophospermum mopane, Crown Diameter, Stem Diameter, Total Above-Ground Biomass
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.6,
June
13,
2023
ABSTRACT: This study aimed to develop a biomass equation for estimating the total
above-ground biomass for Colophospermum mopane (mopane) based on the
pooled data from three study sites. The mopane woodlands in Botswana represent
14.6% of Botswana’s total area. The woodlands directly or indirectly support
the livelihood of the majority of the rural population by providing wood and
non-wood products. However, there is limited information on the pattern, trends
and distribution of woody biomass production and their primary, environmental,
and climatic determinants in different parts of Botswana. All the data
were collected by destructive sampling from three study sites in Botswana.
Stratified random sampling was based on the stem diameter at breast height (1.3
m from the ground or Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)). A total of 30 sample
trees at each study site were measured, felled and weighed. The data from the
three sites were pooled together, and the study employed regression analysis to
examine the nature of relationships between total above-ground biomass
(dependent variable) and five independent variables: 1) total tree height; 2)
crown diameter; 3) stem diameters at 0.15 m; 1.3 m (DBH) and 3 m from the
ground respectively. There were significant relationships between all the
independent variables and the dependent variable. However, DBH emerged as the
strongest predictor of total tree above-ground biomass for mopane. The equationlnBiomass=-1.163+2.190lnDBH was adopted
for use in the indirect estimation of total tree above-ground biomass for
mopane in Botswana.