Species Diversity and Carbon Accumulation of Two Golf Courses in Makurdi, Benue State

Background and Objective: There is an increasing trend in anthropogenic activities in the destruction of natural habitats of plants and less awareness of conservation measures, including the consequence of actions on the ecosystems. A survey was conducted to investigate the species diversity and carbon stock potential of trees, herbs, and soil at NASME and New Bridge Golf Course, Makurdi, Benue State. Materials and Methods: Each Golf course was divided into two plots of 100×100 m, and each plot had three quadrats was resulting in a total of twelve quadrats for both Golf courses. The biomass and carbon stock of 50 dominant trees and shrubs, 12 species of trees, and 78 species of herbs from 28 families were evaluated. Above and below ground trees and shrubs’ biomass was determined using allometric equations, and herbs and grasses biomass was estimated using the stable oven dry weight method. Results: Parkia biglobosa had the highest SCO₂E (7655.17 kg) and TSC/Tree (2085.88 kg) in both study locations. Parkia biglobosa also had the highest record in above-ground (5348.40 kg) and below-ground (3476.46 kg) biomass, lowest above-ground biomass recorded in Polyanthia longifolia and Tectona grandis(71.74 kg). Diversity index (Shannon-Weiner) (2.15), species evenness (0.93), and richness (10.00) were evaluated highest in the NASME Golf course. Vernonia cinerea had the highest relative frequency (0.122), relative density (12.25), relative abundance (0.061), and IVI (12.44). The FVI was highest in Cyperaceae (24.27) and least in Cucurbitaceae (0.2) at the NASME golf course. Mitracarpus villosus had the highest relative frequency (0.127), relative density (12.72), relative abundance (0.06), and IVI (12.91), while Poaceae had the highest FVI (26.22). Conclusion: In both study sites, the total number of trees, herbs, and soil collected demonstrates that there are differences in carbon stock in both sampled sites based on the degree of disturbance.