Carbon Sequestration Potential of Herbaceous Species in an Abattoir Ecosystem along Idhezie Road in Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the carbon sequestration potential of herbaceous species in an abattoir ecosystem along Idhezie Road, Ozoro, Delta State, Nigeria. Vegetation was sampled using randomly positioned 1 m × 1 m quadrats within the abattoir and at a nearby uncontaminated control site. Herbaceous species were identified and enumerated, while leaf, stem, and root components were assessed for biomass, pH, carbon content, and carbon stock. Nineteen herbaceous species, representing 18 genera and eight families, were recorded across both sites. The abattoir supported 15 species, whereas the control site supported 10, with seven species shared between them. Poaceae was the dominant family. Biomass did not differ significantly between the abattoir and control sites (p > 0.05), although its distribution among plant components varied. Stem components contained the highest carbon content at both sites. Root carbon stock differed significantly between sites (p < 0.05), whereas the other components showed no significant differences. Overall, leaf, stem, and root carbon stocks were higher at the control site than at the abattoir. These findings indicate that herbaceous vegetation within the abattoir environment stores measurable carbon, but site disturbance and poor waste management may constrain carbon retention. Improved waste handling and maintenance of vegetation cover may enhance the ecological function of abattoir environments as small-scale carbon-storage areas.