Biomass Accumulation and Carbon Stock in Different Agroforestry Systems Prevalent in the Himalayan Foothills, India

Abstract

Agroforestry has great potential for carbon (C) sequestration among different land uses of the Himalayan region, India. However, our knowledge of C sequestration in particular, agroforestry system around the world is poor. Therefore, we conducted a study to understand biomass accumulation and carbon allocation in different components of the agroforestry system. The highest stem biomass was recorded in Eucalyptus tereticornis (69.43 ± 0.90 Mg ha), branch biomass in Populus deltoids (5.04 ± 0.35 Mg ha), leaf biomass also in P. deltoids (2.21 ± 0.12 Mg ha), and root biomass in Albizia procera (14.01 ± 0.44 Mg ha). The highest (81.01%) C allocation was recorded in the stem of Toona ciliate, branch of P. deltoids (5.73%), leaves of E. tereticornis (2.93%) and root of Anthocephalus cadamba (16.83%). The highest CO2 mitigation (160.5 ± 2.55 Mg CO2 ha) and C sequestration (45.33 ± 0.60 Mg ha) were recorded in E. tereticornis. The highest wheat crop biomass (11.85 ± 0.23 Mg ha) and C stock (3.59 ± 0.05 Mg ha) were recorded in P. deltiodes. However, soil carbon stock was recorded in E. tereticornis (37.5 ± 3.52 Mg ha). Thus, trees on farmlands with crops are suitable for biomass production and C allocation in different components under changing climatic scenarios.