Carbon sequestration, productivity and economic viability of agroforestry systems in Bhabar region of Kumaun Himalaya, India
摘要
The Bhabar zone of the Kumaun Himalayan foothills, forming a piedmont belt between the Siwalik hills and the Terai plains, faces considerable agroecological constraints due to its coarse, gravelly soils with low water-holding capacity. These conditions reduce crop productivity, accelerate soil carbon loss and threaten livelihood security. Agroforestry plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity and ecosystem stability in the region, yet comprehensive assessments of its carbon sequestration, productivity and economic outcomes are limited. The present study conducted a comparative assessment of seven locally predominant land-use systems in the Bhabar region: Agri-Silviculture (AS), Agri-Horticulture (AH), Boundary Plantation (BP), Pure Orchard (PO), Pure Plantation-Eucalyptus (PPE), Pure Plantation-Teak (PPT) and Sole Crop System (SS). Each system was evaluated for crop yield, biomass production, carbon storage, soil nutrient enrichment and profitability using field-based measurements and one-way ANOVA (F-values up to 733.81; p < 0.05). The SS system achieved the highest wheat yield (6169 ± 437.9 kg ha⁻1), while AH attained the highest total carbon stock (52.94 ± 0.56 t C ha⁻1). AS exhibited the most effective topsoil nutrient enrichment (N: 5.54 ± 0.06; P: 2.83 ± 0.03; K: 11.50 ± 0.09 kg ha⁻1 yr⁻1), whereas BP balanced productivity (5742 ± 353.6 kg ha⁻1) with ecological stability. AH recorded the highest profitability (US$ 3477.95 ha⁻1 yr⁻1; benefit–cost ratio of 2.70). The study highlights the ecological and economic advantages of diversified agroforestry systems, offering a replicable framework for carbon-positive and economically sustainable land-use strategies in the Himalayan foothills and similar ecotonal regions worldwide.