Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential and Its Sustainability Comparison Between Mango-based Agroforestry and Cropland Seeking Soil Fertility Parameters Under Climate Resilience

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is a critical ecosystem service for reducing CO₂ emissions. Terrestrial ecosystems, including the agriculture lands, hold the second largest carbon reserves after oceans, containing 2,344 Gt of carbon. Agroforestry plays an important role in sequestering (SOC) which is essential for mitigating CO₂. Due to increased anthropogenic activities, global CO₂ emissions continue to rise. In agroecological zones, SOC serves as a key reservoir for atmospheric CO₂. This research evaluates sustainability comparison between two land types for carbon sequestration potential and soil fertility parameters in District Multan, Pakistan; mango-based agroforestry (MBA) and cropland (CL) respectively. Soil samples were collected randomly at a depth of 20 cm from the locations; under tree shade in mango-based agroforestry (MBAUS), outside the tree shade (MBA), and cropland (CL). These samples were tested for analysis for (SOC), organic matter (OM %), nitrogen percentage (N %), saturation percentage (SP %), bulk density (BD), and carbon-to-nitrogen (C: N) ratio between mean values of agroforestry and CL. Results indicated that the amount of SOC was higher in agroforestry (0.64) compared to CL (0.43). Similarly, OM% was 1.15 in agroforestry and 0.75% in CL. N% was 0.055 in agroforestry and 0.037 in CL, C: N ratio (12:1) in agroforestry versus (11:1) in CL. SP was greater in CL (36.1) than in agroforestry (34.1), similarly, BD was higher in CL (1.361 g/cm³) and (1.077 g/cm³) in agroforestry. The study employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and four replications. ANOVA was used for data analysis. According to the results, the carbon sequestration potential and fertility index of agroforestry was quite double that of cropland.

Graphical Abstract