Carbon Sequestration Potential of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Plantations Across Climatic Gradients in Togo
Kossi-Messan Jacques AGBOKA *
Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie (ESA), Université de Lomé, P.O. Box 1515-01, Lomé, Togo and WASCAL-Graduate Research Program on Climate Change and Biodiversity, Université Felix Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire.
Dodiomon SORO
Laboratoire des Milieux Naturels et Conservation de la Biodiversité-UFR Biosciences-UFHB (Côte d'Ivoire) 22 BP 582 Abidjan 22, Côte d'Ivoire.
Komi AGBOKA
Ecole Supérieure d’Agronomie (ESA), Université de Lomé, P.O. Box 1515-01, Lomé, Togo and West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Université de Lomé, P.O. Box 1515-01, Lomé, Togo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The current study seeks to estimate the carbon sequestration capability of a cashew plantation in Togo as a function of climate gradient. The research was conducted in the Guinean and Sudanian climatic zones, on farmers' cashew plantations. The study was run from March to October 2023. This study was carried out in ten (10) cashew farms (five per climatic zone) which have ten years old. Cashew trees were classed based on their diameter at breast height (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-15 cm, and > 15 cm). To measure carbon stock in the biomass, allometric equations were utilized, and soil carbon stock was assessed using laboratory analysis. The Guinean zone has a higher soil carbon stock (86.89 ± 4.06 t C/ha) compared to the Sudanian zone (80.23 ± 3.78 t). The same trend can be observed in the various cashew tree components (trunk, branches and leaves). In general, the tree trunk had 79% of the carbon supply, compared to 19% and 2% in the branches and leaves, respectively. Carbon sequestration in the soil varies depending on the climatic zone and the soil depth (0-25 cm; 25-50 cm). Cashew-based cropping systems might be deemed carbon-efficient.
Keywords: Carbon sequestration, biomass, cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.)