Comparative Analysis of Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil Under Different Agroforestry Systems of District Charsada

Abstract

Agroforestry is a system of land utilization that describes trees with different crops fused in a single area for farmers' net income. One or more agroforestry practices in one particular area usually have biological, environmental and economical interaction between the compounds. Whilst the main aim of the AFS is not only economic benefits but also modern studies show that AFS could be used as a prime source carbon pool. Up to 12-228-ton ha -1 , with an average of 95 ton ha -1 , can be stored via the AFS. Trees with crops can raise the carbon stocks to several folds compared to monocrop systems. In order to meet the CO2 assimilation targets anticipated at Kyoto while simultaneously maintaining sustainable farm production and preventing further deforestation, integration of agricultural practices and systems in C Sequestration and C trade projects can be highly useful. Pakistan is a low middle income with an average annual rate of growth of 216.6 million people. Agroforestry has a very important role and is a key part of Pakistan's daily life, particularly rural people. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agroforestry is practiced in various models and shapes from the protection of naturally growing trees to the artificial cultivation of trees on agricultural lands. Agroforestry is an important timber and fuelwood source, with 70 percent of the urban and 97 percent of the rural domestic fuel wood being the main energy source in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for centuries. Two different agroforestry systems i.e. Agri-silviculture system and Agri-horti-silviculturesystem were selected at District Charsadda Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Moisture content was calculated by oven dry method. pH and EC was obtained from mettler Toledo meter. Organic matter was obtained by loss on ignition method in laboratory. To calculate soil organic carbon it was assumed that total organic matter contains 58% organic carbon contents or a relation i.e. organic carbon =SOM% multiply by 0.58. Statistical Analysis were conducted using. The jamovi project (2021) Version 1.6. The mean value of SOC for AHS system is 1.76% while that of AS system is 0.916%. The means of two systems are different from each other, the mean SOM value for AHS system was found to be 3.03% and for AS system it is 1.55%. Our results show that soil organic carbon had an inverse relationship with soil pH. High density of carbon in agricultural Lands including agroforestry is related to the high tree diversity that increases