Soil carbon stocks and their thermal stability in the agroforestry systems of manali watershed,Thrissur
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Date
2023
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College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, Vellanikkara
Abstract
Depletion of SOC pools has a detrimental effect on soil quality, biomass productivity, and water quality, and the problem could get worse due to projected global warming. Agroforestry can act as a potential mitigative measure to cope up with the adverse effects of climate change.
In Kerala, an agroforestry technique based on integrated coconut farming has traditionally shown promise in homegardens. Homegarden study focuses on coconut-based agroforestry systems, evaluating carbon storage capacities across three home garden sizes (small homegarden is <0.2 ha, medium homegarden 0.2-0.4 ha, large homegarden >0.4 ha). In these HGs, the carbon stock and soil organic carbon at various soil depths were examined. The selected homegardens were in Manali watershed region in Thrissur district.
The soil properties or carbon stocks didn’t vary significantly between the three home garden systems. However, the amount of carbon stored in the different sized aggregates were found to vary between the systems and with depth in each system. Finest fraction (<0.2mm) stores more carbon. Though having similar carbon stocks, the carbon decomposition rate was lowest and activation energy maximum in small home gardens indicating that carbon in these systems were comparatively stable than the other studied systems under future rises in temperature.
Agroforestry has bright future possibilities due to growing acknowledgement of its value in promoting sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change. Future agricultural and environmental policies must include agroforestry because it may boost biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions, and improve food security.
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176020