Agroforestry System and Their Carbon Stock in Terai and Mid-Hill Regions of Central Nepal
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Botany
Abstract
Trees and forests play a critical role in human livelihood as well as in ecosystem
functioning. Agricultural emissions from crop and livestock production grew from 4.7
billion tons of CO
eq. per year in 2001 to over 5.3 billion tons in 2011 due to agriculture
fermentation. Compensation in loss of biodiversity, concern of food security,
improvement in the living standard by generating income and the global issue of climate
change related with carbon sequestration can be addressed with the scientific knowledge
of agroforestry system. It can directly store carbon in tree components and potentially
slows down the deforestation rate by reducing the need to clear forest land for
agriculture. In the country like Nepal which is very suitable for agriculture, the
agroforestry practice can be highly demanding for the overall growth of the nation. The
study was carried out in Terai and mid-hill physiographic region. This study focuses
mostly on the species grown in the home garden for the various purposes and to
determine the total carbon stock of these two regions. The plot of 20×20m
2
was set up
and the trees inside the plot were listed, counted and the various parameters like dbh,
angle of elevation and distance between the observer and tree were measured for biomass
carbon stock. The study was conducted in 30 home-gardens from Terai and 50 from midhill.
Total
171
species
were
recorded in the study. Shannon's index was 1.247 in Terai
and 1.216 in mid-hill. Simpson's index was 0.0915 in Terai and 0.087 in mid-hill. The
total mean tree trunk volume was found to be 17.46 m
3
/ha. The average total biomass
was significantly greater in Terai (21.314 t/ha) than in mid-hill (11.203 t/ha). The mean
of total biomass carbon stock was found to be 10.255 tons C / ha and 5.24 tons C / ha for
Terai and mid-hill respectively. The soil was collected from 0-20 cm depth. 80 soil
samples were air dried and brought to laboratory for further analysis of soil carbon stock.
The study found the soil bulk density to be 1.38 g/cm
3
in Terai and 1.076 g/cm
in midhill
region.
The
soil
carbon
stock
was
found
to
be
61.17
t
C
ha
-1
in Terai and 67.608 t C
ha
-1
in mid-hill. The biomass carbon stock and soil carbon stock were summed up to
obtain the total carbon stock. However, the study found no significant difference in the
total carbon stock between the two regions i.e. 71.433 t C/ha in Terai and 72.856 t C/ha
in mid-hill.
2
3
Though agroforestry does not contribute as much as the forest, however, it can store
enough significant amount of carbon when designed in a proper way. Thus, agroforestry
system can be proved to be one of the best alternatives to cope with the alarming problem
of biodiversity loss, food security and climate change. Starting from a small area around
the home, it can create its impact to the global scale.
Keywords: Species diversity, Uses, Biomass carbon stock, Soil carbon stock.
Description
Keywords
Species diversity,, Biomass carbon stock, Soil carbon stock