Abstract
Bamboo biomass and carbon stock estimation is controlled mainly by age-dependent growth patterns and the limited availability of species-specific allometric equations, mainly in traditionally managed bamboo systems. This study developed age-specific allometric models to estimate biomass and ecosystem carbon stock of Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr.) K.Koch (syn. Phyllostachys bambusoides Siebold & Zucc.) in Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Destructive sampling of 45 culms across three age classes (< 2,2–3, and ≥ 3 years) combined with field-based inventory data was used to quantify above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC). DBH and compound predictor (DBH² × height) were evaluated separately for each age class using the Power-law allometric equation. Performance varied with culm age: DBH-based equations for juvenile culms (Adj.R² = 0.79), volume-based models for biomass variation in mature culms (Adj.R² = 0.69), indicating ontogenetic shift in biomass allocation. Above-ground carbon stock was 3.40 ± 0.31 Mg C ha⁻¹, whereas SOC dominated the carbon pool with 82.64 ± 9.53 Mg C ha⁻¹; ~90%. Total ecosystem carbon was 86.72 ± 9.54 Mg C ha⁻¹ (318.27 ± 35.01 Mg CO₂ ha⁻¹), with substantial accumulation in the 15–30 cm soil layer. The findings suggest that age-specific allometric equations improve biomass estimation for P. reticulata by capturing ontogenetic variation in biomass allocation across culm developmental stages. The study further highlights the critical role of soil organic carbon in bamboo-dominated ecosystems and provides important scientific inputs for regional carbon accounting, climate-change mitigation, and sustainable management of bamboo-based agroforestry systems in the Eastern Himalaya.
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Kajoli, B., Majhi, B.K., Sivaranjani, S. et al. Age-specific allometric modelling and ecosystem carbon stock of Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr.) K.Koch in Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63455-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63455-6
Keywords
- Age specific allometric modelling
Phyllostachys reticulata
- Ecosystem carbon stock
- Agroforestry systems
- Climate change mitigation
Source: Ecology - nature.com
