Assessment of Carbon Sequestration in a Cocoa Field in the Lôh-Djiboua Region: The Case of Divo, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

This study was conducted in Divo Botanic reserve. The overall objective of the present research is to determine the various carbon sequestration potentials in cocoa-based agroforestry plantations. The biological material consists of trees recorded in Divo Botanic reserve. The sampling design includes 26 plots measuring 30 m x 50 m, randomly established and 61 plant species were recorded. The diameter was measured over bark at breast height (DBH) of 1.30m from the ground). The tool used to measure tree circumferences was a forestry tape. Biomass stocks were obtained using two methods: destructive and non-destructive. To determine carbon stock, aboveground biomass was converted according to established recommendations. The distribution of trees by height class showed a dominance of individuals in the medium height class. The height of most trees ranged from 10-15metres and 16-20metres, which alone stores an average of 42.03 tC/ha. The least carbon stock was recoreded was 27.94 tC/ha at the first Agroforestry system (SAF1), while the highest was 42.03 tC/ha, recorded the lowest carbon rate compared to the third Agroforestry system (SAF3), which alone stores an average of 42.03 tC/ha. The relationship between carbon stock and tree diameter showed a strong correlation, as the correlation coefficient was r = 0.98, close to 1, with a p-value less than 0.05.