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Quantification of Carbon Stocks and Sequestration Potential through Existing Agroforestry Systems in the Hilly Kupwara District of Kashmir Valley in India


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
2 ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India
3 NRM-Division, ICAR, KAB-II, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
4 Camp-Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar 190 025, India
 

The dynamic carbon accounting model CO2FIX was used for evaluating carbon stocks and estimate greenhouse gas mitigation through tree-based systems, outside the forest area, in Kupwara district of Kashmir valley India. Primary survey results revealed that on an average, there were about 135 trees per hectare, existing on farmers' field. Malus (33.75%), populus (29.91%), salix (14.32%), juglans (6.68%) and robinia (4.7%) were dominant tree species. Paddy and maize are the dominant kharif crops, whereas rabi season is dominated by oilseeds and fodder crops. The carbon sequestration potential, all the three pools simultaneously (viz. tree, crop and soil), of existing agroforestry systems (AFS) has been predicted as 0.88 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. AFS at district level are estimated to sequester 146,996 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, which may offset completely the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture/irrigation sector on account of electricity consumption throughout the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords

Agroforestry Systems, Carbon Sequestration Potential, GHG Mitigation, Soil Carbon, Tree Biomass.
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  • Quantification of Carbon Stocks and Sequestration Potential through Existing Agroforestry Systems in the Hilly Kupwara District of Kashmir Valley in India

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Authors

Ajit
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
A. K. Handa
ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India
S. K. Dhyani
NRM-Division, ICAR, KAB-II, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
G. M. Bhat
Camp-Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar 190 025, India
A. R. Malik
Camp-Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar 190 025, India
V. Dutt
Camp-Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar 190 025, India
T. H. Masoodi
Camp-Wadura, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Srinagar 190 025, India
Uma
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute, Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
Amit Jain
ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India

Abstract


The dynamic carbon accounting model CO2FIX was used for evaluating carbon stocks and estimate greenhouse gas mitigation through tree-based systems, outside the forest area, in Kupwara district of Kashmir valley India. Primary survey results revealed that on an average, there were about 135 trees per hectare, existing on farmers' field. Malus (33.75%), populus (29.91%), salix (14.32%), juglans (6.68%) and robinia (4.7%) were dominant tree species. Paddy and maize are the dominant kharif crops, whereas rabi season is dominated by oilseeds and fodder crops. The carbon sequestration potential, all the three pools simultaneously (viz. tree, crop and soil), of existing agroforestry systems (AFS) has been predicted as 0.88 Mg C ha-1 yr-1. AFS at district level are estimated to sequester 146,996 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, which may offset completely the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture/irrigation sector on account of electricity consumption throughout the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords


Agroforestry Systems, Carbon Sequestration Potential, GHG Mitigation, Soil Carbon, Tree Biomass.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv113%2Fi04%2F782-785