Assessing Carbon Sequestration in Agroforestry Systems in Churiya Range of Nepal

Agroforestry is a system that combines household and community level food production ecosystem services along with income security. It has potential of carbon sequestration and puts a positive impact on balancing greenhouse gases. The research was carried out to assess the variability of carbon stock under the agro-forestry systems in Churiya range at Rakshirang Rural Municipality of Makwanpur district of Nepal. Thirty households were sampled for this study; ten households from each of three different systems namely, Agrisilviculture, Silvopasture and Homegarden for data collection. Simple random sampling was used for the sample plot selection from the selected agroforestry systems for biomass and soil carbon estimation. Each system consisted of ten sample plots. Diameter and height of all trees with diameter at breast height greater than 10 cm were measured. The diameters of the trees were measured at standard height, i.e., diameter at breast height. Above ground biomass, below ground biomass and soil organic carbon were summed to determine the total carbon stock in the agroforestry systems. Collected data were analyzed through tabular analysis, and volume and biomass estimation of the trees. Total carbon stock was found higher in Silvopasture system (32.41t/ha), 28.58 t/ha in Agrisilviculture system and 30.71 t/ha in Homegarden system. Results have shown the potentiality of agroforestry systems for carbon sequestration. Such systems need to be promoted for their efforts by encouraging them with some subsidized input support, financial support or some capacity building trainings by the government.