Apple-based agroforestry systems for biomass production and carbon sequestration: implication for food security and climate change contemplates in temperate region of Northern Himalaya, India

Agroforestry land use systems present a win–win opportunity by acting as carbon sinks while assisting in achieving food security, livelihood income and environmental amelioration. In this context, the present study was carried out at farmer’s field in central Kashmir region of India with the aim to acknowledge the potential of apple based agroforestry system for biomass production and carbon stock assessment for climate change mitigation. For conducting the study four intercrops viz., rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris), green gram (Vigna radiata), french bean (P. vulgaris) and oats (Avena sativa) were intercropped with 11-year-old plantation of apple. The maximum total crop biomass was registered under control french bean and oats (7.85 t ha⁻¹). Overall highest values of total biomass were observed under agroforestry system of apple + rajmash and Oats. The treatment, apple + rajmash and oats displayed highest values for both total tree biomass (29.16 t ha⁻¹) and overall biomass of system (33.00 t ha⁻¹). Maximum value of soil organic carbon (46.02 t ha⁻¹) was observed under apple + green gram and oats. The highest ecosystem carbon was stored in the treatment involving the tree crop combination of apple + rajmash and oats (64.18 t ha⁻¹) and is around 1.5 to 2 times higher than agriculture based system. The total ecosystem carbon in apple based land use system ranged between 53.23 and 64.18 t ha⁻¹. These agroforestry systems in Himalayas can go a long way in augmenting the overall production and productivity by satisfying the rural livelihoods besides acting as effective carbon sink through carbon stockpiling and sequestration. The outcome of the present study can be significant in selecting different crop combinations for fruit based land use systems, future carbon studies, climate change contemplates, soil carbon stock estimation and land use planning along the lines of REDD + activities in other fragile Himalayan ecosystems.