AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Agroforestry systems are also being considered as natural based climatic change mitigation in Agriculture, Forestry as well as Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. The present research paper will give a synthesis on the carbon sequestration potential on various agro forestries systems through mixed methods that will involve a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existing 97 articles that have been published since the year 2000 that will be used to give an overview of their study. It was measured quantitatively on the above ground biomass carbon (AGB-C), soil organic carbon (SOC), below ground biomass and silvopastoral, alley cropping, multi stratum, homegarden and windbreak systems. Findings show that the mean pooled aboveground rate of carbon sequestration of the pooled systems is 6.42 Mg C ha-1 yr-1 and the silvopastoral and multistrata system boasts of the highest evidence of biomass accretion. Agro forestry conversion improved the top 30 cm of the organic carbon stocks on the average depth of 31 of the soils when compared to the conventional agricultural systems and the beneficial influence of the agro forestry conversion on carbon accumulation was noticeable in the depth of the sub soils. The mean carbon stock of the total ecosystems amounted to 152.7 Mg C ha- 1 with the soil carbon making up approximately 62 percent of the total ecosystem. The qualitative synthesis of the results also revealed that the strength of management, composition of species, fixation of nitrogen by trees and the support of the institution are also involved in the determination of the result of the process of carbon sequestration. The results affirm the fact that agro forestry systems can be resourceful in the long run as carbon sink and even provide co-benefits such as maintenance of biodiversity, soil recovery in addition to the diversification of livelihood. A potential contribution to cost effective mitigation potential to the 2050 targets can be significant based on the integration of agro forestry into the national climate strategies.