Assessing the Contribution of Citrus Orchards in Climate Change Mitigation through Carbon Sequestration in Sargodha District, Pakistan

Ghulam Yasin, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Muhammad Zubair, Ihsan Qadir, Aansa Rukya Saleem, Muhammad Ijaz, Sadaf Gul, Muhammad Amjad Bashir, Abdur Rehim, Shafeeq Ur Rahman and Zhenjie Du
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Ghulam Yasin: Department of Forestry Range Wildlife Management, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz: Department of Forestry and Range Management, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Muhammad Zubair: Department of Forestry and Range Management, FAS &T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 61000, Pakistan
Ihsan Qadir: Department of Forestry and Range Management, FAS &T, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 61000, Pakistan
Aansa Rukya Saleem: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Muhammad Ijaz: College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Bahadur Sub-Campus, Layyah 31200, Pakistan
Sadaf Gul: Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Muhammad Amjad Bashir: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Abdur Rehim: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
Shafeeq Ur Rahman: College of Agriculture, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Bahadur Sub-Campus, Layyah 31200, Pakistan
Zhenjie Du: Farmland Irrigation Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xinxiang 453000, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-10

Abstract: Adopting agroforestry practices in many developing countries is essential to combat climate change and diversify farm incomes. This study investigated the above and below-ground biomass and soil carbon of a citrus-based intercropping system in six sites (subdivisions: Bhalwal, Kot Momin, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Shahpur and Silanwali) of District Sargodha, Southeast Pakistan. Tree biomass production and carbon were assessed by allometric equations through a non-destructive approach whereas, soil carbon was estimated at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths. Above and below-ground biomass differed significantly, and the maximum mean values (16.61 Mg ha −1 & 4.82 Mg ha −1 ) were computed in Shahpur due to greater tree basal diameter. Tree carbon stock fluctuated from 6.98 Mg C ha −1 to 10.28 Mg C ha −1 among selected study sites. The surface soil (0–15 cm) had greater bulk density, organic carbon, and soil carbon stock than the subsoil (15–30 cm) in the whole study area. The total carbon stock of the ecosystem ranged from 25.07 Mg C ha −1 to 34.50 Mg C ha −1 across all study sites, respectively. The above findings enable us to better understand and predict the carbon storage potential of fruit-based agroforestry systems like citrus. Moreover, measuring carbon with simple techniques can produce trustworthy outcomes that enhance the participation of underdeveloped nations in several payment initiatives such as REDD+.

Keywords: agroforestry; allometric equations; biomass; carbon stock; organic carbon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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