Harvesting the Himalayas: How agroforestry balances carbon sequestration and crop yields
image: Tree diversity, carbon sequestration and production potential of Oryza sativa L. in traditional agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya, India
Credit: Sachin Kumar, Sandeep Kumar, Vinod Prasad Khanduri*, Bhupendra Singh, Reena Joshi, Manoj Kumar Riyal, Deepa Rawat and Kewat Sanjay Kumar
In the Garhwal Himalayan region of India, traditional agroforestry systems are not just ancient practices but a delicate balance of nature's bounty and human ingenuity. A new study evaluates how these systems manage tree diversity, carbon sequestration, soil health, and rice productivity across varying elevations. The research provides a snapshot of the complex interplay between nature and agriculture, offering insights that could shape future land management strategies.
The study measured tree diversity and carbon sequestration using field quadrats and calculated oxygen production and rice yields. Soil properties were analyzed in a lab, revealing that higher elevations (1200–1600 m) boasted greater tree diversity, with the Shannon Diversity Index peaking at 1.29 and Simpson Diversity Index at 0.69. The elevation range of 1600–2000 m was a carbon and oxygen powerhouse, storing 34.43 Mg ha−1 of carbon and producing 91.79 Mg ha−1 of oxygen. Among the agroforestry trees, Quercus leucotrichophora, Melia azedarach, and Prunus cerasoides were standouts for carbon storage and oxygen production.
Interestingly, while agroforestry systems had higher soil organic carbon and lower bulk density than monoculture systems, they produced less rice (Oryza sativa). This trade-off between environmental benefits and crop yields is a critical consideration for implementing agroforestry systems.
The study underscores the potential of traditional agroforestry in the Garhwal Himalaya for carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, and soil quality improvement. It provides a reference for balancing the ecological advantages of agroforestry with the socio-economic needs of local communities. The research calls for tailored management approaches to harness the ecological and environmental benefits of agroforestry in the Himalayas, highlighting the need to consider trade-offs between environmental benefits and crop yields.
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Citation: Kumar, S., Kumar, S., Khanduri, V.P. et al. Tree diversity, carbon sequestration and production potential of Oryza sativa L. in traditional agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Carbon Res. 4, 6 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-024-00158-5
Title: Tree diversity, carbon sequestration and production potential of Oryza sativa L. in traditional agroforestry systems of Garhwal Himalaya, India
Keywords: Below-ground carbon; Carbon stock; Elevational gradients; Importance Value Index; Oxygen; Soil properties
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