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Assessment of crop yield, productivity and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems in Central Himalaya, India

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Abstract

The present study deals with the assessment of crop composition, yield, biomass, net primary productivity (NPP), carbon stock and carbon sequestration in agri-silviculture (AS) and agri-horticulture (AH) agroforestry systems of Central Himalaya. An extensive field survey was carried out for the selection of AS (poplar + wheat) and AH (mango + wheat) systems practiced by the farmers in the region. In each agroforestry system, the wheat and tree species were assessed. Tree density was 400 and 278 individuals ha−1 in AS and AH systems while wheat density was 95 and 61 individuals m−2 in AS and AH systems, respectively. The yield and harvest index of wheat were 5096 kg ha−1 and 46% in AS system while 4009 kg ha−1 and 44.6% in AH system, respectively. In comparison with sole cropping system, the reduction in wheat yield was 19.7% in AS system and 36.8% in AH system. The biomass and net primary productivity of trees were 128.3 t ha−1 and 16.2 4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AS system while 171.95 t ha−1 and 14.4 t ha−1 yr−1 in AH system. However, the carbon sequestration of tree was 7.7 and 6.8 t C ha−1 yr−1 in AS and AH systems. The available nitrogen and phosphorus showed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) with crop yield. The yield of wheat, NPP, carbon sequestration and nutrients of soil was higher in AS (poplar + wheat) system than in AH (mango + wheat) system. Therefore, we suggested the farmers to adopt the AS system for better outputs in terms of production, carbon sequestration and sustainability of land use system.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Botany and Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, Uttarakhand, for providing necessary facilities.

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  1. Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, UK, 263002, India

    Bhawna Adhikari & Neelu Lodhiyal

  2. Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, UK, 263002, India

    L. S. Lodhiyal

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  1. Bhawna Adhikari
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  2. Neelu Lodhiyal
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Adhikari, B., Lodhiyal, N. & Lodhiyal, L.S. Assessment of crop yield, productivity and carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems in Central Himalaya, India. Agroforest Syst 94, 281–296 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00388-2

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