Soil Organic Carbon Stocks And Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Agroforestry Systems In H.P. Himalaya Region of India

摘要

Agroforestry landuse systems have been perceived as a potential carbon sinks and can contribute substantially to mitigate the global climate change. Current investigations were carried out involving five agroforestry systems viz. horti-pastoral (HP),silvi-pastoral (SP), agri-horticulture (AH), agri-silviculture (AS), agri-horti-silviculture (AHS) and one natural grassland (NG) system at Nauni (30°51' N and 76°11'E), Solan (H.P.) which were analyzed for their existing carbon stocks and to know therelative Carbon sequestration Potential (CSP). The region represented sub-humid to sub-temperate climate with an altitude of 1250 m asl. All the landuse systems differed significantly in their soil carbon stock levels. The soil organic carbon stock was maximum in SP system. Soil organic pool was also highest in SP system followed by NG and AHS system. The minimum soil organic carbon pool was in AH system. Relative carbon sequestration potential of different agroforestry systems with respect to NG was highest in SP system and minimum was under AH system. The findings envinced tht SP system can be better option for carbon sequestration in non-arable lands. However, in arable lands, AHS system shall be a better option to sequester atmospheric carbon. CSPvalues with respect to NG taken as base was 2.17,1.15,1.08, 0.78 and 0.76 for SP, AHS, HP, AS and AH systems respectively.