Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Potential of Different Agroforestry Systems in India: A Critical Review

Abstract

Agroforestry systems (AFS) and practices followed in India are highly diverse due to varied climatic conditions ranging from temperate to humid tropics. The estimated area under AFS in India is 13.75 million ha with the highest concentration being in the states of Uttar Pradesh (1.86 million ha), followed by Maharashtra (1.61 million ha), Rajasthan (1.55 million ha) and Andhra Pradesh (1.17 million ha). There are many forms of agroforestry practice in India ranging from intensified simple systems of monoculture, such as block plantations and boundary planting, to far more diverse and complex systems, such as home gardens. As a result, the biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of AFS are highly variable across different agro-climatic zones of India. Studies pertaining to the assessment of biomass and carbon storage in different agroforestry systems in the Indian sub-continent are scanty and most of these studies have reported region and system specific carbon stocks. However, while biomass and carbon stock data from different AFS at national scale has been scanty hitherto, such information is essential for national accounting, reporting of C sinks and sources, as well as for realizing the benefits of carbon credit to farmers engaged in tree-based production activities. Therefore, the objective of this study was to collate and synthesize the existing information on biomass carbon and SOC stocks associated with agroforestry practices across agro-climatic zones of India. The results revealed considerable variation in biomass and carbon stocks among AFS, as well as between different agro-climatic zones. Higher total biomass (>200 Mg ha−1) was observed in the humid tropics of India which are prevalent in southern and northeastern regions, while lower total biomass (<50 Mg ha−1) was reported from Indo-Gangetic, western and central India. Total biomass carbon varied in the range of 1.84 to 131 Mg ha−1 in the agrihorticulture systems of western and central India and the coffee agroforests of southern peninsular India. Similarly, soil organic carbon (SOC) ranged between 12.26–170.43 Mg ha−1, with the highest SOC in the coffee agroforests of southern India and the lowest in the agrisilviculture systems of western India. The AFS which recorded relatively higher SOC included plantation crop-based practices of southern, eastern and northeastern India, followed by the agrihorticulture and agrisilviculture systems of the northern Himalayas. The meta-analysis indicated that the growth and nature of different agroforestry tree species is the key factor affecting the carbon storage capacity of an agroforestry system. The baseline data obtained across various regions could be useful for devising policies on carbon trading or financing for agroforestry.

Biomass and Leaf Nutrition Contents of Selected Grass and Legume Species in High Altitude Rangelands of Kashmir Himalaya Valley (Jammu & Kashmir), India

“…Our findings outlined that AGB, BGB, and total biomass yield were the highest in central Kashmir, followed by southern and northern Kashmir. Such a variation in biomass yields was reported to be correlated with the variation in carbon sequestration potential (CSP) [ 25 ]. Panwar et al [ 25 ] reported a high CSP in northern India (J & K as a whole state), associated with high biomass yields (AGB: 6.7–159.4 t. ha −1 ; BGB: 1.6–71.5 t. ha −1 ; total biomass yield: 15.9–202.6 t. ha −1 ).…”

“…Such a variation in biomass yields was reported to be correlated with the variation in carbon sequestration potential (CSP) [ 25 ]. Panwar et al [ 25 ] reported a high CSP in northern India (J & K as a whole state), associated with high biomass yields (AGB: 6.7–159.4 t. ha −1 ; BGB: 1.6–71.5 t. ha −1 ; total biomass yield: 15.9–202.6 t. ha −1 ). However, the study was very general and did not take into consideration the difference between Kashmiri regions in terms of vegetative populations nor site types (grazed, protected and seed-sown sites).…”

Rethinking sustainability in cocoa supply chain in light of SDG disclosure

“…Thus, the fight against deforestation applies to climate action, human health, environmental stability, economic vitality and community resilience. The literature shows that agroforestry can act as a carbon sink in tropical forests (Panwar et al , 2022). The T03 report describes the Climate Smart Cocoa programme conducted in Ghana, which is also referred to in the literature as adequate to address deforestation, climate action and increase livelihood incomes (Nasser et al , 2020).…”

Prioritizing Tree Based Land Management Options for Optimizing Carbon Sink in the Indian sub-Himalayan Region

“…Unlike in developed countries, carbon inventories and data banks to monitor the carbon sequestration potential of different ecosystems still need to be prepared for the Indian sub-Himalayan region. Moreover, carbon sequestration studies for diverse land uses are scarce from this region [20,21,[28][29][30]. Such micro-level studies are essential for sustainable land use management for a country like India and especially for the Terai region of West Bengal to recommend suitable land use management prescriptions for carbon management meeting the local and national needs.…”