Stand structure, biomass, and carbon stock of bamboo plantation niches along altitudinal gradients in southern Ethiopian highlands

Understanding how environmental and management factors influence bamboo productivity and carbon (C) sequestration is essential for sustainable resource management and climate change mitigation.This study investigated bamboo (Arundinaria alpina) plantation niches' stand structure, biomass, and C stock across altitudinal gradients.Three plantation niches (homesteads, farmland patches, and stream banks) were studied at altitudinal gradients of 2,480-2,520, 2,580-2,620, and 2,680-2,720 m above sea level.To assess stand characteristics, biomass, and C sequestration, three 10 m × 10 m sample plots were established within each plantation niche across the different altitudinal ranges.A total of 81 composite soil samples were collected for soil organic carbon (SOC) determination.Allometric equations were used for biomass calculation using stand characteristics, and SOC stocks were calculated after analyzing SOC content by the Walkley and Black method.The results revealed that plantation niches could be generally important CO 2 sinks in the highlands, storing an average capacity of 278.7 Mg C ha -1 , which is 1,023 Mg ha -1 of CO 2 equivalents (CO 2 e).Homestead niches demonstrated significantly higher mean C stock and its CO 2 e values (307.4 and 1,128.2Mg ha -1 , respectively) compared to stream bank niches (265.8 and 974.7 Mg ha -1 , respectively) and farmland patch niches (263.2 and 965.8 Mg ha -1 , respectively).A positive correlation was observed between bamboo C stock as well as CO 2 e and altitudinal gradient, with higher values recorded at upper elevations.These results indicate that A. alpina plantations are significant C sinks in Ethiopian highlands, with both plantation niche and altitude playing key roles in determining their sequestration potential, highlighting the importance of improved management practices to enhance C storage, ecosystem services, and climate change mitigation benefits while supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.