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Role of Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Climate Change Mitigation through Carbon Sequestration: An Investigation from the Semi-Arid Region of Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Ghulam Yasin

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz

    (Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Karachi 75279, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Zubair

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Farooq Azhar

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan)

  • Matoor Mohsin Gilani

    (Department of Forestry and Range Management, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 66000, Pakistan)

  • Muhammad Nadeem Ashraf

    (Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan)

  • Anzhen Qin

    (Institute of Farmland Irrigation, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Water Use and Regulation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Xinxiang 453002, China)

  • Shafeeq Ur Rahman

    (Water Science and Environmental Engineering Research Center, College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China)

Abstract

Several agroforestry systems prevail in different agro-ecological zones of Pakistan, and cover a remarkable area of 19.3 million hectares. They not only play an important role in slowing down CO 2 emissions, but also contribute to mitigating climate change. However, in many regions, the relevant effect of agroforestry systems on overall carbon (C) stock and their reliance on various factors are quite unidentified. This study was planned to assess the biomass accumulation and C stocks of different commonly practiced agroforestry systems (boundary, bund, scattered, agri-horticulture) and their constituent land use types (tree + cropland) through a non-destructive approach (allometric equations) in a semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed that the highest plant biomass (87.12 t ha −1 ) increased by 46%, 17%, 78%, and 339%, and C stock (42.77 t ha −1 ) increased by 49.51%, 20%, 82%, and 361% in the boundary planting system compared to the bund, scattered, agri-horti and sole cropland, respectively. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock at all three depths, 0–15 cm, 15–30 cm & 30–45 cm, was found in the following order: boundary planting system > bund planting system > agri-horti system > scattered planting system > agricultural system, with a maximum in the boundary planting system and minimum in the sole cropping system at all three depths. Overall, the total C stock of the ecosystem’s vegetation + soil C (0–30 cm) in the forested area was 275 t ha −1 , equating to 37 t ha −1 in the agricultural system alone. Our results highlighted that agroforestry systems have the highest potential for C sequestration. We suggest that research and investment in agroforestry systems can be a successful way for Pakistan to achieve some of its climate change mitigation goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghulam Yasin & Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz & Muhammad Zubair & Muhammad Farooq Azhar & Matoor Mohsin Gilani & Muhammad Nadeem Ashraf & Anzhen Qin & Shafeeq Ur Rahman, 2023. "Role of Traditional Agroforestry Systems in Climate Change Mitigation through Carbon Sequestration: An Investigation from the Semi-Arid Region of Pakistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:513-:d:1073917
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nayab Komal & Qamar uz Zaman & Ghulam Yasin & Saba Nazir & Kamran Ashraf & Muhammad Waqas & Mubeen Ahmad & Ammara Batool & Imran Talib & Yinglong Chen, 2022. "Carbon Storage Potential of Agroforestry System near Brick Kilns in Irrigated Agro-Ecosystem," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-13, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lianlian Fan & Yuanye Liang & Xiaofeng Li & Jiefei Mao & Guangyu Wang & Xuexi Ma & Yaoming Li, 2023. "Grazing Decreases Soil Aggregation and Has Different Effects on Soil Organic Carbon Storage across Different Grassland Types in Northern Xinjiang, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Xiaoping Li & Sai Hu & Lifu Jiang & Bing Han & Jie Li & Xuan Wei, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Patterns and the Development Path of Land-Use Carbon Emissions from a Low-Carbon Perspective: A Case Study of Guizhou Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.

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