Stability of organic carbon pools and sequestration potential as affected under different agroforestry systems

Summary

AbstractThere are few data on the possibility of soil organic carbon sequestration for agroforestry systems (AFSs). Rarely are the effects of AFSs established for the regeneration of carbon in degraded soils of the Indian North Eastern Himalayas (susceptible to soil erosion, carbon and nutrient loss) examined. The effects of five different AFSs on the stability of organic carbon pools and sequestration potential were evaluated at the ICAR-Sikkim Centre. Black gram + mandarin + Alnus nepalensis had the lowest bulk density at all depths. The highest oxidizable carbon was observed in the black gram + mandarin + Alnus nepalensis system, followed by soybean + Ficus hookerii + guava, maize + Schima wallichii, and soybean + Ficus hookerii + guava, followed by Napier. Regardless of soil depth, the