Influence of silvicultural management regimes and slope on carbon sequestration potential of Pinus Caribaea

Abstract

This study was conducted at le-Prome pine plantation which is a plantational forest located in Kiboga district west of Kampala along the Kampala-Hoima highway. The plantation is within the Goyero Central Forest Reserve, about 5km away from town and is placed on four villages, which are Busakya, Goyero, Kimbejja and Kakola, in Kibiga and Kajeere Sub-counties. The overall objective of the study was to identify the effect of silvicultural management regimes on carbon sequestration in Pinus caribaea trees. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine the influence of silvicultural management regimes on carbon sequestration of Pinus caribaea trees and determine the impact of slope on carbon sequestration of Pinus caribaea trees. The study was an experimental study design used to identify the effect of silvicultural management activities on carbon sequestration of pinus caribaea of the same age of 15years in both steep and gentle slope. Systematic random sampling was used and two circular plots were obtained from each hectare, the distance between plots was 20m. The distance from the edge of the forest was 15m on each side. The study findings indicate that above ground carbon storage of pinus caribaea trees is associated with the silvicultural management regimes that is to say thinning, weeding and pruning. Carbon sequestration was higher in category of thinning and weeding, followed by pruning and weeding and lastly in weeding only. Gentle slope had higher carbon sequestration under all silviculture activities compared to steep slope. From the study, it is recommended that; forest managers should consider possible effects that some silvicultural management regimes selected for carbon sequestration management might have on the intended objectives of management of the forest plantation. Also effect of slope on carbon sequestration rate should be considered by forest managers and other stakeholders when selecting site for Pinus carribaea planting specifically for carbon sequestration objective.