Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in the Indian arid zone

Abstract

Carbon sequestration potential of eight recommended land-use systems of arid western Rajasthan was compared. Biomass C stock was maximum in farm forestry of Acacia tortilis (31.4 Mg C ha-1) followed by Prosopis cineraria and Hardwickia binata based silvoarable systems (8.8 and 10.6 Mg C ha-1). Soil C stock was also maximum in farm forestry (47.6 Mg C ha-1) followed by Ziziphus based systems (32.5-33.9 Mg C ha-1). About 50-78% of additional soil C stock was in the form of soil inorganic carbon. The total C sequestered (biomass + soil) over a period of nineteen years was in the order: farm forestry (49.80) > silvoarable systems (11.0-13.3) > hortipasture system (8.3) > agri-horti (5.5), silvopasture (5.4) and sole pasture (5.3) compared to -1.0 Mg C ha-1 in sole cropping.