The use of biomass production and allometric models to estimate carbon sequestration of Jatropha curcas L. plantations in western Burkina Faso

In order to determine annual net leaf-productivity, litterfall was collected from ten randomly-chosen J. curcas trees from two plantations of different ages (five from each plantation established in 2007 and 2008). For determination of total above-ground biomass, five 1000 m2 blocks were randomly chosen in each of the study sites for detailed measurements (girth of stem at 20 cm above the ground and the total plant height). This corresponds to a total of 390 individuals of J. curcas measured per study site. Carbon content in dry matter samples of the branches and leaves were determined by using five 2g composite samples of each component