Eco-investments: Quantification of carbon sequestration potential and economic valuation of multifunctional agroforestry system

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.4820

Keywords:

carbon revenue, carbon sequestration, carbon stock, climate change, Multi Functional Agroforestry (MFA) system, soil organic carbon

Abstract

The study was carried out to quantify the carbon stock and sequestration potential of the multifunctional agroforestry (MFA) system established for small and marginal farmers in Tamil Nadu, India. The MFA consists of 316 multi-utility trees and shrubs across four quadrats and border trees on a 0.75 acre land. The results showed significant variation in the above-ground and below-ground carbon stock among the different tree and shrub species. Neolamarckia cadamba recorded the highest above and below-ground stock of 70.65 kg tree-1 and 18.37 kg tree-1, respectively. The total carbon sequestered by the vegetation was 3.82 tons (3823.94 kg), with the highest contribution from Quadrat II (1591.85 kg) and the lowest from border trees (132.30 kg). The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock decreased with increasing depth, with the maximum stock observed in the 0–20 cm layer. The total change in SOC stock from the MFA during the study period was 12.99 mg ha-1, with a carbon sequestration rate of 0.18 mg ha-1 yr-1. The total carbon revenue from the vegetation and soil was estimated at US$ 311.4 (US$ 140.3 from vegetation and US$ 171.1 from soil). The findings highlight the significant potential of MFA systems in carbon sequestration and mitigation of climate change, particularly for small and marginal farmers in developing countries.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bhardwaj DR, Sharma P, Kumar D, Panwar P, Kumar A, Pala NA, et al. Carbon stock inventory and biomass production in different land use systems of Northwestern Himalaya. In: Climate Change in the Himalayas. Academic Press; 2023. p. 217-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-19415-3.00011-6

Cubasch U, Wuebbles D, Chen D, Facchini MC, Frame D, Mahowald N, Winther JG. Introduction. In: Stocker TF, Qin D, Plattner GK, Tignor M, Allen SK, Boschung J, Nauels A, Xia Y, Bex V, Midgley PM, editors. Climate Change: The Physical Science Basis Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press; 2013.

Sharma P, Bhardwaj DR, Singh MK, Nigam R, Pala NA, Kumar A, et al. Geospatial technology in agroforestry: status, prospects and constraints. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2023;30(55):116459-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20305-y

Adhikari B, Lodhiyal N, Lodhiyal LS. Assessment of crop yield, productivity and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems in Central Himalaya, India. Agroforestry Systems. 2020;94(1):281-96. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00388-2

Panwar P, Mahalingappa DG, Kaushal R, Bhardwaj DR, Chakravarty S, Shukla G, et al. Biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of different agroforestry systems in India: a critical review. Forests. 2022;13(8):1274. https://doi.org/10.3390/f13081274

Saleem I, Mugloo JA, Pala NA, Bhat GM, Masoodi TH, Mughal AH, et al. Biomass production, carbon stock and sequestration potential of prominent agroforestry systems in north-western Himalaya, India. Front For and Glob Change. 2023;6:1192382. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1192382

Solomon S, editors. Climate change -the physical science basis: Working group I contribution to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press; 2007.

Parthiban KT, Srivastava D, Keerthika A. Design and development of multifunctional agroforestry for family farming. Curr Sci. 2021;120(1):27-28.

Thangata PH, Hildebrand PE. Carbon stock and sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in smallholder agroecosystems of sub-Saharan Africa: Mechanisms for ‘reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation’ (REDD+). Agric Ecosys Environ. 2012;158:172-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2012.06.007

Albrecht A, Kandji ST. Carbon sequestration in tropical agroforestry systems. Agric Ecosys Environ. 2003;99(1-3):15-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(03)00138-5

IPCC. Intergovernmental panel on climate change. In: Climate Change Synthesis Report. Cambridge (UK): Cambridge University Press; 2007.

Walkley A, Black IA. An estimation of Degtreff method for determining soil organic matter and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 1934;37(1):29-38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003

Piper CS. Soil and plant analysis. Soil Sci. 1945;59(3):263. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-194503000-00009

Nozaki Y, Div IS. Rise of carbon farming in India- World’s largest Agrarian Country expected to become the leading market for carbon farming credits. 2023;1-8.

Fisher RA. 014: On the "probable error" of a coefficient of correlation deduced from a small sample. Metron. 1921;1:3-32.

Duncan DB. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics. 1955;11(1):1-42. https://doi.org/10.2307/3001478

Monda S, Bhar K, Mahapatra AS, Mukherjee J, Mondal P, Rahaman ST, Nair AP. “Haripriya” God’s Favorite: Anthocephalus cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. At a glance. Pharmacognosy Resea. 2020;12(1):1-16. https://doi.org/10.4103/pr.pr_102_19

Akhilraj TM, Parthiban KT. Development and documentation of dus traits for Melia dubia Cav. genetic resources. Indian J Plant Genet Resour. 2020;33(1):36-42. http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0976-1926.2020.00006.6

Sarkar PK, Bishnoi SK, Shinde R, Das B. Prevalent agroforestry systems of Jharkhand state of India: A livelihood option. Rashtriya Krishi. 2017;12(1):87-89.

Junaedi A, Mindawati N, Rochmayanto Y. Early growth of Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.) in a drained peatland of Pelalawan, Riau. Indones J for Res. 2021;8(1):59-72. https://doi.org/ 10.20886/ijfr.2021.8.1.59-72

Inoue Y. Ecosystem carbon stock, atmosphere and food security in slash-and-burn land use: a geospatial study in mountainous region of Laos. In: Land-atmospheric Research Applications in South and Southeast Asia. Springer, Cham; 2018. p. 641-65. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67474-2_28

Liu X, Trogisch S, He JS, Niklaus PA, Bruelheide H, Tang Z, et al. Tree species richness increases ecosystem carbon storage in subtropical forests. Proc R Soc B. 2018;285:20181240. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.1240

Kumara K, Pal S, Chand P, Kandpal A. Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in Indian agricultural landscape: A meta-analysis. Ecosyst Serv. 2023;62:101537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2023.101537

Xu W, Zhang B, Xu Q, Gao D, Zuo H, Ren R, et al. Enhanced carbon storage in mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest compared to pure forest in the North subtropical–warm temperate transition zone of China. Forests. 2024;15(9):1520. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091520

Venkatesh L, Maheshnaik BL, Rathod R. Studies on sandalwood tree (L.) based Santalum album agroforestry system in Haveri district of Karnataka, India. Indian J Ecol. 2023;50(5):1602-07. https://doi.org/10.55362/IJE/2023/4102

Chopra N, Tewari LM, Tewari A, Wani ZA, Asgher M, Pant S, et al. Estimation of biomass and carbon sequestration potential of Dalbergia latifolia Roxb. and Melia composita Willd. plantations in the Tarai region (India). Forests. 2023;14(3):646. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030646

Singh S. Carbon sequestration potential of red sander (Pterocarpus santalinus) plantations under different ages in Vellore and Thiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu. Life Sciences Leaflets. 2020;123:1-10. Retrieved from https://petsd.org/ojs/index.php/lifesciencesleaflets/article/view/1473

Sambou M, Koné B, Sambou S, Niang F, Sane S, Diatta M, et al. Variation of biomass carbon stock within agroforestry systems in the Senegalese groundnut basin. Discov Sustain. 2024;5(1):35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-024-00208-3

Kumar P, Mishra AK, Chaudhari SK, Singh R, Singh K, Rai P, et al. Biomass estimation and carbon sequestration in Populus deltoides plantations in India. J Soil Salinity and Water Quality. 2016;8(1):25-29.

Rizvi RH, Handa AK, Dhillon RS, Tewari S. Development and validation of generalized biomass models for estimation of carbon stock in important agroforestry species. Indian J Agrofor. 2018;20(2):68-72. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJA/article/view/96737

Chavan SB, Dhillon RS, Sirohi C, Uthappa AR, Jinger D, Jatav HS, et al. Carbon sequestration potential of commercial agroforestry systems in Indo-Gangetic plains of India: Poplar and eucalyptus-based agroforestry systems. Forests. 2023;14(3):559. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030559

Arya S, Nanda K, Yadav S, Singh T, Ranawat JS. Potential of Melia dubia-wheat based agroforestry system to cope up with climate change. Environ Conserv J. 2023;24(2):162-69. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.13672402

Behera SK, Mishra S, Sahu N, Manika N, Singh SN, Anto S, et al. Assessment of carbon sequestration potential of tropical tree species for urban forestry in India. Ecol Eng. 2022;181:106692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2022.106692

Lelamo LL. A review on the indigenous multipurpose agroforestry tree species in Ethiopia: Management, their productive and service roles and constraints. Heliyon. 2021;7(9):e07874. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07874

Ntawuruhunga D, Ngowi EE, Mangi HO, Salanga RJ, Shikuku KM. Climate-smart agroforestry systems and practices: A systematic review of what works, what doesn't work and why. For Policy Econ. 2023;150:102937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2023.102937

Singh MK, Yadav SK, Rajput BS, Sharma P. Carbon storage and economic efficiency of fruit-based systems in semi-arid region: a symbiotic approach for sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. Carbon Research. 2024;3(1):33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-024-00114-3

Sarjono A, Lahije AM, Simarangkir BDAS, Kristiningrum R, Ruslim Y. Carbon sequestration and growth of Anthocephalus cadamba plantation in North Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodivers J Bio Div. 2017;18(4):1385-93. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d180414

Baul TK, Chakraborty A, Nandi R, Mohiuddin M, Kilpeläinen A, Sultana T. Effects of tree species diversity and stand structure on carbon stocks of homestead forests in Maheshkhali Island, Southern Bangladesh. Carbon Balance and Manag. 2021;16(1):11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-021-00175-6

Ajit, Dhyani SK, Handa AK, Newaj R, Chavan SB, Alam B, et al. Estimating carbon sequestration potential of existing agroforestry systems in India. Agrofor Syst. 2017;91:1101-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9986-z

Singh NR, Raizada A, Rao KK, Saurabh K, Shubha K, Dubey R. Soil organic carbon fractions, carbon stocks and microbial biomass carbon in different agroforestry systems of the Indo-Gangetic plains in Bihar, India. Curr Sci. 2023;124(8):981. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv124%2Fi8%2F981-987

Matos PS, Pinto LADSR, Lima SSD, Alves TDC, Cerri EP, Pereira MG, Zonta E. Soil organic carbon fractions in agroforestry system in Brazil: seasonality and short-term dynamic assessment. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 2023;47:e0220095. https://doi.org/10.36783/18069657rbcs20220095

Nwoko CO, Umeohana S, Anyanwu J, Izunobi L, Peter-Onoh CA. Carbon stock assessment of four selected agroforestry systems in Owerri-West local government area, Nigeria. Int J Environ Clim. 2024;14(3):207-16. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2024/v14i34033

Kimaro OD, Desie E, Verbist B, Kimaro DN, Vancampenhout K, Feger KH. Soil organic carbon stocks and fertility in smallholder indigenous agroforestry systems of the north-eastern mountains, Tanzania. Geoderma Regional. 2024;36:e00759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2024.e00759

Takimoto A, Nair PR, Nair VD. Carbon stock and sequestration potential of traditional and improved agroforestry systems in the West African Sahel. Agric Ecosys Environ. 2008;125(1-4):159-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2007.12.010

Published

31-12-2024 — Updated on 06-01-2025

Versions

How to Cite

1.
Rachana PM, Sekar I, Parthiban KT, Raj SV, Akshay FM, Singh D, Sivakumar B, Kiruba M, Murthy MS. Eco-investments: Quantification of carbon sequestration potential and economic valuation of multifunctional agroforestry system. Plant Sci. Today [Internet]. 2025 Jan. 6 [cited 2025 Jan. 7];12(1). Available from: https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/4820

Issue

Section

Research Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)