Assessment of soil organic carbon sequestration potential and greenhouse gas fluxes in agroforestry systems under varying climate scenarios.

Project Abstract

This study investigates the potential for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and concurrent greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in agroforestry systems under diverse climate scenarios, integrating field measurements, process-based modeling, and socio-economic considerations to inform sustainable management strategies. The research evaluates SOC dynamics across silvopastoral, alley-cropping, and forest-intercrop configurations established on marginal to moderately productive soils in a defined agro-ecological zone. By combining in situ soil sampling, root biomass assessment, litter decomposition rates, and mineralogical analyses with high-resolution meteorological data, we quantify baseline SOC stocks, turnover rates, and the partitioning of carbon inputs from litter, root exudates, and woody biomass. GHG fluxes, including CO2, CH4, and N2O, are monitored using closed-chamber methods and automated soil respiration sensors, enabling diurnal, seasonal, and event-driven flux characterizations in relation to soil moisture, temperature, and substrate availability. The study also integrates isotopic tracing (13C, 15N) to distinguish SOC derived from trees versus understory crops and to elucidate nitrogen cycling pathways that influence mineralization and denitrification processes under different management practices. Climate scenarios are constructed by downscaling regional climate models to project 2030, 2050, and 2070 conditions under representative concentration pathways (RCPs), allowing assessment of SOC resilience and GHG flux responses to altered precipitation regimes, temperature regimes, and extreme weather events. A process-based model is calibrated with empirical data to simulate long-term SOC trajectories, including stabilization within mineral-associated fractions and particulate organic matter pools, and to project the net global warming potential (GWP) of agroforestry systems relative to conventional monoculture farming. The study also examines management levers—species selection, planting density, pruning regimes, residue management, and soil amendments—that modulate carbon inputs and microbial activity, thereby altering SOC sequestration potential and GHG balances. Economic and policy implications are explored through a cost-benefit framework that accounts for carbon credits, soil fertility improvements, biodiversity gains, and resilience to climate perturbations. Expected outcomes include (i) quantified SOC sequestration rates across agroforestry configurations under varying climate scenarios, (ii) gap-bridging measurements of CH4 and N2O fluxes associated with different litter and root inputs, (iii) identification of key drivers and thresholds governing SOC stabilization and GHG flux dynamics, and (iv) actionable guidelines for policymakers and land managers to optimize carbon sequestration while sustaining productivity and ecosystem services. The research contributes to refining regional carbon accounting, informing adaptation strategies for smallholder farmers, and advancing understanding of the interactions between agroforestry practices, soil carbon processes, and climate-driven GHG emissions in tropical-temperate transitional zones.

Project Overview

What This Project Is About

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A straightforward project that looks at how soils store carbon and release greenhouse gases when grown with trees and crops together (agroforestry). It examines how different climate conditions, like rainfall and temperature, affect these soil processes and gas emissions over time.

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The Problem It Addresses

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Soils can either help remove carbon from the atmosphere or release it back, depending on land management and climate. The project fills a gap in understanding how agroforestry systems influence soil carbon storage and gas fluxes under different climate scenarios, which is important for climate change mitigation and sustainable farming.

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Objectives of the Project

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1. Explain how agroforestry practices affect soil carbon storage.
2. Measure how climate factors change greenhouse gas emissions from soil.
3. Compare soil health indicators between agroforestry and conventional farming setups.
4. Identify management practices that maximize carbon sequestration and minimize emissions.
5. Provide practical guidelines for farmers in different climates.

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What You Will Do Step by Step

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1. Review literature on soil carbon, greenhouse gases, and agroforestry basics.
2. Select field sites representing different climate conditions.
3. Collect soil samples and measure carbon content and gas fluxes (e.g., CO2, CH4, N2O).
4. Record environmental data such as temperature, rainfall, and soil moisture.
5. Analyze data to relate climate, soil carbon, and gas fluxes.
6. Compare agroforestry with other farming systems.
7. Draft practical recommendations for land managers.
8. Present results in a concise final report and poster.

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Expected Outcome

Evidence on how agroforestry can enhance soil carbon storage and influence greenhouse gas emissions under varying climates, plus actionable guidelines for farmers and policymakers to promote climate-smart practices.