Data from: Carbon stocks in the Guinea savanna of Ghana: estimates from three protected areas

Savannas are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and unarguably play major role in the global carbon balance. Extensive quantification of carbon stocks of the savannas in SSA will therefore contribute significantly to the global carbon budget in the era of climate change. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of carbon stocks of different soil fractions from the dominant tree species (Vitellaria paradoxa) of three forest reserves in the Guinea savanna of Ghana as well as the tree and non-tree carbon stocks. The study was carried out in Kenikeni, Sinsablegbinni and Klupene forest reserves using nested plot design. Higher soil carbon stock (SCS) was associated with the silt +clay fraction than the microaggregates and small macroaggregates of all three protected areas. Soil carbon stocks ranged from 2.99 to 15.89 Mg C /ha in the surface soil of 0-10 cm depth. The highest SCS was recorded at the sub-canopy (SC), drip line (DL) and 2(SC + DL) zones from the dominant tree of the Klupene, Sinsablegbinni and Kenikeni forest reserves, respectively. The highest tree carbon stock of 60.57 Mg C/ha was recorded in Kenikeni as compared to 26.98 Mg C/ha of Sinsablegbinni, which had the highest stocking density. Average carbon capture by a single tree ranged from 0.04 to 0.34 Mg C. Grass C stock in the above- ground biomass ranged from 0.09 to 0.29 Mg C /ha whilst the below ground carbon stock ranged from 0.03 to 0.44 Mg C /ha. Accumulation of carbon in the aboveground grass biomass increased with decreasing forest cover, whereas that of the below ground biomass increased with increasing forest cover with implications for forest management in the savanna.