Introduction:

Agroforestry, the intentional integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems, offers a promising approach to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. India, with its diverse agro-climatic zones, can harness agroforestry for both climate mitigation and agricultural resilience.

Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry:

Trees and shrubs in agroforestry systems act as carbon sinks, capturing and storing carbon in their biomass and the soil. The carbon is stored in above-ground biomass (trunks, branches, leaves) and below-ground biomass (roots). Decomposed plant materials further enhance soil organic carbon storage.

According to Kumar and Nair (2011), agroforestry systems in tropical regions can sequester significant amounts of carbon, with potential rates varying from 1.5 to 3.5 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1.

The Indian Scenario:

Several agroforestry models adapted to Indian conditions show promise:

• Silvopastoral Systems: Trees with pasture/forage.
• Agri-silvicultural Systems: Trees with agricultural crops.
• Horti-silvicultural Systems: Trees with horticultural crops.

Research by Dhyani et al. (2016) indicates that agroforestry practices across different agro-climatic zones in India have the potential to sequester approximately 42 to 78 Tg C annually.

Additional Benefits:

• Biodiversity: Diverse agroforestry systems support flora and fauna, promoting biodiversity.
• Soil Health: Enhances soil fertility and water retention.
• Livelihoods: Provides varied income streams to farmers.

Challenges:

While agroforestry holds potential, challenges like unclear land tenure, limited access to quality planting material, and lack of market linkages need addressing.

Conclusion:

Harnessing agroforestry for carbon farming can aid India in meeting its climate commitments while ensuring sustainable agriculture and improved rural livelihoods.

References:

• Kumar, B. M., & Nair, P. K. R. (2011). Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems: Opportunities and challenges. Advances in Agroforestry, 8, 3-15. Link
• Dhyani, S. K., Handa, A. K., Uma, & Gupta, H. (2016). Estimation of carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in India. Indian Journal of Agroforestry, 18(1), 1-10. Link