Development of Allometric Equations to Determine the Biomass of Plant Components and the Total Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Young Mediterranean Argan Trees

Assma Oumasst, Fatima Ezzahra Tiouidji, Salma Tabi, Abdelaziz Zahidi, Abdelhamid El Mousadik, Aissam El Finti, Abderrahmane Aitlhaj and Jamal Hallam ()
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Assma Oumasst: Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Fatima Ezzahra Tiouidji: Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Salma Tabi: Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Abdelaziz Zahidi: Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco
Abdelhamid El Mousadik: Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources (LBVRN), Faculty of Sciences Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Aissam El Finti: Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Natural Resources (LBVRN), Faculty of Sciences Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Abderrahmane Aitlhaj: National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Jamal Hallam: Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, Rabat 10090, Morocco

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: Morocco’s argan trees, native to forests, are now cultivated in large orchards within the Argan Biosphere Reserve, transforming “Arganiculture”. These orchards are anticipated to bolster carbon storage, but their precise contribution to carbon storage remains unclear. This study introduces for the first time allometric equations for estimating biomass in different components of argan plants within orchards. A total of 89 plant individuals, aged 2 to 6 years, were collected. Their diameter and total height were measured. The biomass, carbon content, and biomass carbon stock of each component were determined. The best-fit allometric equation incorporates diameter, height, growing years, and root-to-shoot ratio to estimate total biomass (R 2 = 0.95). The estimated total carbon biomass stock ranged from 0.01 to 0.82 t CO 2 ha −1 for plants, at a density of 200 plants ha −1 . Between 2021 and 2023, the average annual carbon sequestration was 0.20 t CO 2 ha −1 year −1 . This model offers valuable tools for use when species-specific equations during the establishment growing stage are unavailable, enhancing carbon sequestration quantification for more reliable results and informing climate change mitigation strategies. The allometric parameters serve as benchmarks for trees resembling the argan tree. The methodology could be adapted for other forest plants undergoing conversion to orchard cultivation.

Keywords: establishment growing stage; regression model; biomass estimation; carbon sequestration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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