scholarly journals Conversion of degraded agricultural landscapes to a smallholder agroforestry system and carbon sequestration in drylands

Author(s):  
Stella Nwawulu Chiemela ◽  
Florent Noulèkoun ◽  
Chinedum Jachinma Chiemela ◽  
Amanuel Zenebe ◽  
Nigussie Abadi ◽  
...  

Purpose This paper aims at providing the evidence about how carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to the decrease of atmospheric CO2 rates through the adoption of appropriate cropping systems such as agroforestry. Design/methodology/approach Stratified randomly selected plots were used to collect data on tree diameter at breast height (DBH). Composite soil samples were collected from three soil depths for soil carbon analysis. Above ground biomass estimation was made using an allometric equation. The spectral signature of each plot was extracted to study the statistical relationship between carbon stock and selected vegetation indices. Findings There was a significant difference in vegetation and soil carbon stocks among the different land use/land cover types (P < 0.05). The potential carbon stock was highest in the vegetation found in sparsely cultivated land (13.13 ± 1.84 tons ha−1) and in soil in bushland (19.21 ± 3.79 tons ha−1). Carbon sequestration potential of the study area significantly increased (+127174.5 tons CO2e) as a result of conversion of intensively cultivated agricultural lands to agroforestry systems. The amount of sequestered carbon was found to be dependent on species diversity, tree density and tree size. The vegetation indices had a better correlation with soil and total carbon. Originality/value The paper has addressed an important aspect in curbing greenhouse gases in integrated land systems. The paper brings a new empirical insight of carbon sequestration potentials of agroforestry systems with a focus on drylands.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Ramasheshwar Mandal ◽  
Srijana Karki ◽  
Bishnu Hari Pandit

The carbon assessment and monitoring in small scale forests like agroforests are difficult tasks but it creates enormous opportunity as carbon credit. This study aims to assess carbon sequestration potential in agroforestry including soil carbon using google earth imageries. Agroforestry of Ratanpur village in Tanahun district Nepal was selected as the study site. Total agroforests of 19 farmers were selected as the experimental and no agroforests area of 4 farmers were selected as the control site. The high resolution imageries of 2020 and 2015 were acquired from Google earth pro. The digitization was done to classify the image into agriculture, agroforestry, natural trees, settlement areas and others. Total enumeration was done to measure the diameter and height of the plants (tree species) planted in the agro-forest. Moreover, total 69 soil samples were collected from 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depth. The biomass was calculated using Chave et al. equation while soil carbon was analyzed using Walkley Black method. The biomass was converted into carbon which was used to calculate mean annual carbon increment. The result showed the highest carbon stock was 17.6 kg/ stand of Paulownia tomentosa. Total carbon sequestration potential was 2057.689 kg and its monetary value was US$ 30.863. The mean soil carbon stock of agro-forest was higher 52.92 ton/ha than this of 50.3 ton/ha in agriculture site. The map showed it was 7.63 ha agroforest in map of 2020. The overall accuracy of map of 2015 was 90.91% with Kappa coefficient 0.86 but these values were 80.65% and 0.74 respectively of map of 2020. One-way ANOVA and Post hoc test showed that there was significant difference in species wise carbon stock per stand at 95% confidence level. The research will be useful to understand the carbon stock in agroforestry practices.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Normah Awang Besar ◽  
Herawandi Suardi ◽  
Mui-How Phua ◽  
Daniel James ◽  
Mazlin Bin Mokhtar ◽  
...  

Total aboveground carbon (TAC) and total soil carbon stock in the agroforestry system at the Balung River Plantation, Sabah, Malaysia were investigated to scientifically support the sustaining of natural forest for mitigating global warming via reducing carbon in the atmosphere. Agroforestry, monoculture, and natural tropical forests were investigated to calculate the carbon stock and sequestration based on three different combinations of oil palm and agarwood in agroforestry systems from 2014 to 2018. These combinations were oil palm (27 years) and agarwood (seven years), oil palm (20 years) and agarwood (seven years), and oil palm (17 years) and agarwood (five years). Monoculture oil palm (16 years), oil palm (six years), and natural tropical forest were set as the control. Three randomly selected plots for agroforestry and monoculture plantation were 0.25 ha (50 × 50 m), respectively, whereas for the natural tropical forest it was 0.09 ha (30 × 30 m). A nondestructive sampling method followed by the allometric equation determined the standing biomass. Organic and shrub layers collected in a square frame (1 × 1 m) were analyzed using the CHN628 series (LECO Corp., MI, USA) for carbon content. Soil bulk density of randomly selected points within the three different layers, that is, 0 to 5, 5 to 10, and 10 to 30 cm were used to determine the total ecosystem carbon (TEC) stock in each agroforestry system which was 79.13, 85.40, and 78.28 Mg C ha−1, respectively. The TEC in the monoculture oil palm was 76.44 and 60.30 Mg C ha−1, whereas natural tropical forest had the highest TEC of 287.29 Mg C ha−1. The forest stand had the highest TEC capacity as compared with the agroforestry and monoculture systems. The impact of planting systems on the TEC showed a statistically significant difference at a 95% confidence interval for the various carbon pools among the agroforestry, monoculture, and natural tropical forests. Therefore, the forest must be sustained because of its higher capacity to store carbon in mitigating global warming.


1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ranabhat ◽  
KD Awasthi ◽  
R Malla

This study was carried out to analyze the carbon content in different parts of Alnus nepalensis, and to assess the effect of aspect and altitude in the carbon storage in Alnus nepalensis as well as to quantify the total carbon sequestration (stock) in Alnus nepalensis forest in the mid-hills of Kaski District. The inventory for estimating above and below ground biomass of forest was carried out using stratified random sampling technique. The carbon content in different parts of Alnus nepalensis was quantified using combustion method in the laboratory. For determining the soil carbon content, six soil profiles from each aspect were excavated and soil samples were taken from soil profile up to 1 m depth for deep soil and up to bedrock for shallow soils at the interval of 20 cm. Mean carbon content in stem, branches, leaves and bark of Alnus nepalensis were found to be 40.52%, 33%, 9.56% and 16.4%, respectively. Total biomass carbon sequestered in northern aspect was 30.20 t/ha while for southern aspect it was 39.00 t/ha. In both the aspects higher carbon sequestration was observed at an elevation range of 1200-1300m i.e. 34.8 t/ha and 45.6 t/ha in northern and southern aspects, respectively. Soil carbon sequestration in northern and southern aspects was found to be 113.4 t/ha and 169.30 t/ ha, respectively. The total carbon sequestration potential of Alnus nepalensis forest was estimated to be 186.05 t/ha. Key words: Alnus nepalensis, altitude, aspect, carbon sequestration, mid hills   doi: 10.3126/banko.v18i2.2167 Banko Janakari, Vol. 18, No. 2, 3-9


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Tupek ◽  
Aleksi Lehtonen ◽  
Raisa Mäkipää ◽  
Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio ◽  
Saija Huuskonen ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;We aimed to estimate a nation-wide potential to improve the carbon balance of the land use sector by removing part of the current croplands on mineral soil from food and feed production to extensive grasslands or afforestation in Finland. &amp;#160;We combined the existing data on forest and agricultural production, and climate with predictive capacity of YASSO07 soil carbon model to estimate changes of soil carbon stock (SOC) in Finland over the past land use change (LUC) from forest to agriculture in comparison with alternative LUC or continuous agriculture in future.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The model analysis revealed that SOC loss after deforestation during the cultivation period originated mainly from the absence of woody litter input. The non-woody litter input of the forest was comparable to that of the agricultural residues thus the SOC originating from non-woody litter has not changed much during cultivation. The model estimated approximately a 30 year delay in positive soil carbon balance after the afforestation. Longer for Norway spruce than for the Pubescent birch. The comparison of two dominant tree species used for afforestation highlighted a difference in soil versus biomass carbon sequestration. The total forest biomass production and total carbon stock was larger for spruce stands than for birch stands. However, due to larger foliar and fineroot litter input birch stands sequestered more carbon into the soil than spruce stands. The analysis further revealed that extensification of cropland to grassland would not meet 4 per mill soil carbon sequestration criterion needed for achieving Paris climate CO2 reduction target and due to the spatial limitation of afforestation other management measures need to be considered e.g. adding biochar to soils for successful and more permanent CO2 offsetting.&lt;/p&gt;


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Ajani ◽  
Zafar Iqbal Shams

Carbon sequestration by trees is one of the most cost-effective and efficient methods to remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere since trees remove and store carbon at higher rates compared to other land covers. Carbon storage by trees typically ranges from 1 to 8 MgC ha-1 yr-1.The carbon is sequestered in different parts of the trees as biomass. The measurements of biomass provide reasonably accurate estimate of the amount of carbon that was removed from lower troposphere over the years. Therefore, the present study investigates and compares the carbon stock of native Azadirachta indica and exotic Conocarpus erectus, which are extensively cultivated in the campus of the University of Karachi, Pakistan. The above-ground and below-ground biomass of 327 trees of A. indica and 253 trees of C. erectus were estimated by using non-destructive method. The average carbon content of A. indica is calculated to be 662.32 + 1144.81 Kg while that of C. erectus is 192.70 + 322.60 Kg. The independent t-test analysis showed significant difference (p < 0.001) between the means of the carbon content of both the species. The carbon contents of two different species were also correlated with bole’s diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree’s height. The analysis demonstrated greater correlation between the carbon content and the DBH of both the species compared to that with their height. The study will help to understand the carbon sequestration potential of two different types of species for planting particularly in urban area of the world.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTVolume-5, Issue-2, March-May 2016, Page: 89-97


Author(s):  
R. Solis ◽  
G. Vallejos-Torres ◽  
L. Arévalo ◽  
J. Marín-Díaz ◽  
M. Ñique-Alvarez ◽  
...  

Abstract Agroforestry systems can play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change given their capacity to increase tree diversity and to store more carbon than conventional farming. This study aims at assessing carbon stocks and the use of shade trees in different coffee growing systems in the Northeast Peruvian Amazon. Carbon stocks in trees were estimated by field-based measurements and allometric equations. Carbon stocks in dead wood, litter and soil (upper 60 cm) were determined using field sampling and laboratory analysis. The diversity analysis drew on the Shannon–Weiner diversity index, and focus groups were used to obtain information about the local use of shade trees. The total carbon stock in the polyculture-shaded coffee system was 189 t C/ha, while the Inga-shaded and unshaded systems totalled 146 and 113 t C/ha, respectively. The soil compartment contributed the largest carbon stock in the coffee growing systems and contained 67, 82 and 96% of the total carbon stock in the polyculture-shaded, Inga-shaded and unshaded coffee systems, respectively. The Shannon–Weiner index and tree species richness values were highest for the polyculture-shaded coffee system, with a total of 18 tree species identified as important sources of fodder, food, wood, firewood and medicine. Therefore, coffee agroforestry systems play a significant role in carbon storage, while promoting conservation of useful trees in agricultural landscapes in the Peruvian Amazon.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 387
Author(s):  
Mendup Tamang ◽  
Roman Chettri ◽  
Vineeta Vineeta ◽  
Gopal Shukla ◽  
Jahangeer A. Bhat ◽  
...  

In the modern era, Gmelina arborea plantations are a hotspot of future research because of their high carbon sequestration potential. The present work was conducted during 2018 to 2020 on a young unmanaged Gmelina farm to understand the ecosystem’s carbon and its dynamics. The study area was categorized into three age classes: ≤ 5, 5–10, and 10–15 years. In a plantation, Gmelina trees (10%) were randomly selected while other trees (90%) were also taken into the consideration for ecosystem carbon. A stratified random nested quadrate sampling method was adopted for analyzing other vegetation forms under study. Overall, 51 individual species in the studied Gmelina farm were found which includes 23 tree species, 7 shrub species, 16 herbs, 2 climbers, and 3 species of ferns. The estimated quantitative vegetation parameters and diversity indices indicate that the plant assemblages were heterogeneous with native diverse species evenly distributed with fairly higher densities, frequencies, and abundance. Herbs were the most important species followed by shrubs and trees. Consequently, with the increasing age of plantation, the richness of plant species increased. Soil properties were significantly influenced by the age of the plantation but exhibited no discreet trend. Total biomass density and total carbon density increased with increasing plantation age while no drastic variation was found in available soil organic carbon (SOC) because of insignificant variability in litter production. Total carbon, available SOC (up to 60 cm depth) and ecosystem carbon in the three age class plantations fell in the ranges of 54.51–59.91, 48.18–55.73, and 104.81–110.77 Mg ha−1, respectively. The carbon sequestration potential of Gmelina arborea is higher compared to other reported species and highly supportive of converting unutilized agricultural landscapes to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide in future.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 148-163
Author(s):  
Biva Aryal ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai ◽  
Mohan Pandey ◽  
Anjana Giri

Forest floor fires are known to be significantly important in carbon sequestration in soil. The present study investigated the total soil carbon stock (charcoal+soil organic carbon) andCO2 flux from four different depths (0-2, 2-10, 10-30 and >30cm) in fired and unfired forest of P. roxburghii from Langtang National Park, Nepal. The aim of this study was to test the impact of forest floor fire on soil carbon sequestration. We measured total carbon stock in soil of unfired and fired sites of different intensities namely: high frequency and high intensity, high frequency and moderate intensity and high frequency and low intensity. There was significant difference (P=0.00) of the soil organic carbon between the sites and different soil depths tested by one-way ANOVA. Similarly, one-way ANOVA test showed that soil charcoal stock was significantly different (P=0.00) at different soil depths. The value of CO2 flux was increased with increasing volumetric water content and decreasing soil temperature. One-way ANOVA showed significant difference (P=0.00) of volumetric water content, soil temperature and CO2 flux between the sites. In high frequency and medium intensity site, high amount of carbon sequestrated in soil suggested that fire of medium intensity mitigates high CO2 from the atmosphere.


Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 640
Author(s):  
Ghulam Yasin ◽  
Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz ◽  
Timothy Ancel Martin ◽  
Nabeel Khan Niazi ◽  
Sadaf Gul ◽  
...  

The Kyoto Protocol includes agroforestry practices as a suggested approach for mitigating global atmospheric CO2. Agroforestry systems are a desirable option for mitigating atmospheric CO2, as they provide numerous secondary benefits, including food, fodder, fuel, increased farm income, biodiversity maintenance, and soil conservation. This research was planned to assess the current carbon storage status and future potential of agroforestry systems in Pakistan through a nondestructive approach (allometric equations) in 14 subdivisions (tehsils) of three selected districts located in the irrigated plains of Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 1750 plots of 0.405 ha each were selected in a randomized, unbiased sampling to estimate the total number of trees, tree species diversity, diameters at breast height (DBHs), and tree heights. Soil carbon was also measured at 0–30 cm using the Walkley–Black method in a subset of plots. It was found that the current number of trees in farms in the study area varied from 18 to 51 trees/ha, which can be increased to 42–83 trees/ha if all the farmers plant the maximum permissible number of trees along with their crops. The estimated total tree carbon stock ranged from 0.0003 to 8.79 Mgha−1, with the smallest mean value of 0.39 Mgha−1 for tehsil Faisalabad, and the largest mean value of 1.41 Mgha−1 for tehsil Chiniot. The whole study area had an estimated woody vegetation carbon stock of 950,470 Mg and a soil carbon stock of 22,743,008 Mg. If farmers in the study area all increased tree stocking to their average maximum desired stocking, the total tree carbon stock would more than double to 2,497,261 Mg. These results highlight both the current and potential carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry in Pakistan and can be further used in devising strategies for implementing tree planting programs on agricultural lands and designing future carbon sequestration projects in Pakistan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil Ragula ◽  
Shyam Mukandam ◽  
Suryakiran Banoth

In our study of Kamareddy Municipality area, we laid out a 27 sample plots linearly along the road side. 27 sample plots covered about 2.7 ha of land that means each plot size is 0.1 ha. We enumerated 229 number of tree individuals in sampled area. In the 27 sample plots, we calculated 53.5 M3 0f tree volume, mean volume per plot is 1.98 M3 . Total biomass (AGB+BGB) is about 44.7 tones; mean biomass per plot is around 1.65 tones. Total carbon calculated 1.3 tons, mean carbon is 0.78 tones per plot. The total Carbon sequestration potential is 77.9 tones, mean carbon sequestration potential per plot is about 2.88 tones. By the calculations we assumed per hectare volume is 19.81 M3 , biomass is 16.5 tones, carbon stock is 7.88 tones and carbon sequestration potential is 28.85 tons per hectare.


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