Allometric models for estimating biomass storage and carbon stock potential of Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton forests of south-western Ethiopia

Ethiopia has the largest bamboo resource base in Africa. However, due to the lack of species-specific models, little is known about the biomass storage, carbon stock and sequestration potential of bamboo forests. Here, species-specific allometric models are presented and the potential biomass and carbon storage of the Oldeania alpina (K. Schum.) Stapleton forests of Ethiopia are quantified. A total of 42 bamboo culms covering the full range of sizes were destructively sampled, with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ranging from 3 to 7.1 cm, height (H) of 7.8 – 14.2 m, and age 1 – 6-year-old. Allometric equations were formulated in the form of power models for estimating the total aboveground biomass (TAGB) of O. alpina. TAGB was regressed against DBH and H individually and in combination. Finally, the allometric models were validated and selected based on model performance statistics. Allometric equations for estimating TAGB with higher coefficient of determination (adj.R²), lower residual standard error (RSE), and low Akaike information criterion (AIC) values fitted best. Relationships between observed and predicted TAGB were statistically significant ($p\le 0.05)$ for the selected models. The developed allometric models can be applied to the estimation of the biomass storage potential of O. alpina forests of Ethiopia.