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.