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As the rate of forest degradation continues to rise, agroforestry may serve as a way of conserving species and carbon sinks. Th e aim of this study was to assess agrobiodiversity and carbon sequestration potential in agrosystems in Cameroon. Th ree age groups of agrosystems were studied. Data were collected in 100x50 m 2 quadrates. Density ranged from 53.17±0.08 to 1463±50.11; basal area from 2.07±0.00 to 988.39±16.13 m 2 /ha; Shannon diversity from 3.3±0.71 to 3.68±0.72; Carbon storage from 12.1±0.27 to 54.65±1.38 t C/ha for 1-10-year-old agrosystems with lowest values in neem; 34.78±0.87 to 71.34±1.6 t C/ha for 10-20-year-old stands with lowest values in cashew; 28.24±0.04 to 108.51±2.46 t C/ha for +20-year-old stands with highest values in eucalyptus; Carbon sequestration potential from 296.7±1.98 to 859.33±10.01 t CO 2eq /ha. Th e highest carbon stocks were found in eucalyptus stands (p<0.05). Several endogenous species, especially Afzelia bipindensis (EN), Leptoderris ledermannii (EN), Mansonia altissima (EN), Entandrophragma cylindricum (VU), Nesogordonia papaverifera (VU), Quassia sanguinea (VU), Vitellaria paradoxa (VU), Afzelia africana (VU), Erythrina senegalensis (LC), Detarium microcarpum (LC), senna spectabilis (LC), were assessed. Other overexploited species, especially Carissa edulis, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, Adansonia digitata, Securidaca longepedonculata, were assessed as well. Th e studied systems are signifi cant CO 2eq sinks and refuge centre for agrobiodiversity.

No abstract

The present work aims to provide key knowledge on vegetation structure, root biomass distribution and soil carbon stock of savanna agrosystems in Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon. The transect method is used to carry out the investigations in order to characterize the vegetation. The excavation method was used to soil and roots sampling. The experimental device used is the split plot. These results showed that the highest densities were recorded in Anogeissus leiocarpus stands (408 ± 11.12 stems/ha). Higher values of basal area (11.56 ± 0.57 m²/ha), biovolume (116.78 ± 16.57 m 3 /ha) and eco-volume (157.82 ± 22.12 m 3 /ha) were recorded in Khaya senegalensis stands. The highest total large roots biomass (65.81 ± 5.37 tC/ha) and fine roots biomass (11.42 ± 0.67 tC/ha) were recorded in Khaya senegalensis stands. The highest total medium root biomass is recorded in Burkea Africana stands (23.21 ± 1.15 TC/ha). The soil carbon stock is higher in Khaya senegalensis stands (132.16 ± 16.34 tC/ha). These results show that savannah agrosystems in Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon can be considered as carbon sinks.

The study was carried out in three selected plantations. Sampling