Biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry systems in Sindh forest division of Kashmir, India

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate biomass production and carbon stock potentials of different silvipastoral systems (T1: Cedrus deodara, T2: Robinia pseudoacacia, T3: Cupressus torulosa, T4: Prunus armeniaca) in the Sindh forest division of Kashmir. The highest values of above ground tree biomass (80.57 t ha-1), belowground tree biomass (20.14 t ha-1) and total tree biomass (100.70 t ha-1) were recorded in Ailanthus altissima stand and followed the trend of T5>T1>T3>T2>T6>T4. The highest values of aboveground, belowground and total shrub biomass (4.17 t ha-1, 1.75 t ha-1 and 5.92 t ha-1, respectively) were found in grassland and minimum under Cedrus deodara stand. The total herb biomass production followed the trend of T4>T7>T5>T2>T3>T6>T1. The total vegetational carbon stock varied between 8.18 t ha-1 to 52.39 t ha-1 with a trend of T5 (52.39 t ha-1) > T1 (45.13 t ha-1) > T3 (30.44 t ha-1) >T2 (22.77 t ha-1) > T4 (13.90t ha-1) > T7 (9.68 t ha-1) > T6 (8.18 t ha-1).