Influence of Land-Use Practices on Soil Organic Carbon and Microbial Biomass in Coffee and Orange Agroecosystems

Barsha Parajuli, Nabin Lamichhane, Nikolaos Monokrousos (), Chandra Prasad Pokhrel () and Ram Kailash Prasad Yadav
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Barsha Parajuli: Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Nabin Lamichhane: Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Nikolaos Monokrousos: University Center of International Programmes of Studies, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Chandra Prasad Pokhrel: Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
Ram Kailash Prasad Yadav: Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: The agroforestry and intercropping systems are recognized as important options for greenhouse gas mitigation. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impacts of land use change from Orange (O) monoculture to Coffee-Orange (CO) intercropping and Coffee-Forest (CF) agroforest systems, implemented 20 years ago, on soil properties at three different soil depth layers (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–30 cm), with a particular focus on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) levels. Although there were no changes in most of the soil’s physical properties, the soil’s chemical properties varied significantly across different land use types. SOC was higher in CF and CO systems compared to the O system; however, only in the CO system was the SOC incorporated evenly across all depths. Regression analysis showed that, in the CO system, microbial biomass carbon increased significantly, suggesting that these systems are more promising for carbon sequestration. The low pH and phosphorus values in the agroforest system were identified as limiting factors for microbial biomass enhancement. Importantly, the integration of coffee into orange cultivation not only enhances economic benefits but also contributes to long-term carbon sequestration by increasing SOC in deeper soil layers.

Keywords: agroforestry; carbon sequestration; climate change mitigation; intercropping system; soil health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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