CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL OF COFFEE AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM IN MUBENDE AND MITYANA DISTRICTS, CENTRAL UGANDA

Abstract

Carbon sequestration potential of coffee agroforestry system was studied in Mubende and Mityana districts, Uganda between 2014 and 2015. Information on tree density, species density, species richness, species composition and amount of above ground carbon stocks was collected through square plots of 10mx10m placed at alternative interval of 10m (How?). To collect information on socio-economic variables and management types, the study used cross-sectional design. Results indicate that, the average number of trees per hectare of each farm was 72 trees and the mean species richness was 10 species and mean basal area was 10.3 m2/ha, total aboveground tree biomass and diameter were positively correlated for all species and the total discounted NPV (US $1,318/ha) of shade coffee agroforestry system from 1ha of land in Mubende/Mityana districts was profitable under low discount rate. Conclusively, shade coffee agroforestry has potential to sequester significant 1.0 to 18.0 Mg C ha-1 amount (What amount?) of carbon in the aboveground woody biomass and if well managed, it can also provide substantial economic benefits to the farmer because it is profitable especially when fruit and timber tree species are included. Therefore, shade coffee farmers should be trained in best tree-coffee management practices for optimization of both biodiversity and tree-crop productivity of the farming system.