Chanfuta (Afzelia quanzensis Welw.), Jambire (Millettia stuhlmannii Taub.) and Umbila (Pterocarpus angolensis D.C.) are, among others, three of the main tropical tree species producing commercial timber in Mozambique. The present study employed destructive biomass estimation methods at three localities in Mozambique (Inhaminga, Mavume, and Tome) to acquire data on the mean diameter at breast height (DBH), and height of trees sampled in 21 stands each of Chanfuta and Jambire, and 15 stands of Umbila. Mean diameter at breast height (DBH) (ob) for Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila was: 33.8 ± 12.6 (range 13.5–61.1), 33.4 ± 7.4 (range 21.0–52.2), and 27.0 ± 9.5 (range 14.0–46.5) cm. The mean total values for biomass (kg) of trees of Chanfuta, Jambire, and Umbila trees were 864, 1016, and 321 respectively. The mean percentages of total tree biomass as stem, branch and leaf respectively were 54, 43, and 3 for Chanfuta; 77, 22, and 1 for Jambire; and 46, 51, and 3 for Umbila. The best fit species-specific equation for estimating total above ground biomass (AGB) was the power equation with only DBH considered as independent variable yielding coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.89 to 0.97. At stand level, a total mean of 27.3 tons ha−1 biomass was determined of which studied species represented 94.6%. At plot level, total mean biomass for Jambire was 11.8 tons ha−1, Chanfuta and Umbila 9.9 and 4.1 tons ha−1 respectively. The developed power equation fitted total and stem biomass data well and could be used for biomass prediction of the studied species in Mozambique.

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Biomass Equations for Tropical Forest Tree Species in Mozambique

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Disturbance in the Udzungwas: Responses of Monkeys and Trees to Forest Degradation

Development of stem volume for umbrella-shaped crown trees remains a big challenge for efficient use of forest resources in Mozambique. In this study, species-specific stem volume equations were developed for the first time for three of the most important timber species in Mozambique: Afzelia quanzensis Welw. (Chanfuta), Millettia stuhlmannii Taub. (Jambire), and Pterocarpus angolensis D.C. (Umbila). The study was carried out at three locations in Mozambique: Inhaminga, Mavume, and Tome covering 58 trees from which, 24 of Chanfuta, 15 of Jambire, and 19 of Umbila. The volume of the sampled stem sections (logs) was calculated using Smalian’s formula, where stem volume total was obtained through the sum of the respective defined sections. Using a nonlinear procedure, different volume models were tested for each tree species independently. The coefficient of the determination of the tested equations in the tree species ranged from .90 to .95, making the equations potential candidate models for the stem volum...

Stem volume equations for valuable timber species in Mozambique.

A pot experiment was set up in the net-shade at Botswana College of Agriculture from January to May 2014 to evaluate the growth response of Afzelia quanzensis potted seedlings to different growth media. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments each replicated four times as follows; top garden soil (TGS), top forest soil (T FS), commercial compost (CC) and a mixture of the three (TGS+TFS+CC) being treatments 1−4, respectively. The results indicates that the growth response of seedlings to potting media with regards to plant height was significant (p 0.05)on plant leaf number, collar diameter, total (roots + shoots) fresh and dry weights for the entire study period. A. quanzensis seedlings tolerate different potting media. However, the top garden soil is recommended to tree growers because it increased plant height slightly.

D. Jøker

Papers

Afzelia quanzensis Welw.