Assessment of biomass and carbon stock of mung bean and garlic under apricot based agroforestry system in the temperate region of Northern Himalaya, India Dutt Vaishnu*, Mohd. Tariq, Qaisar K.N., Mugloo J.A., Gangoo S.A., Zahoor Shiba Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Benhama, Watlar, Ganderbal-191 202, Jammu and Kashmir, India *e-mail: vaishnudutt@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 December, 2023. Abstract Estimating carbon stocks in various land-use systems is essential for addressing the global climate catastrophe. The present study recognized the potential of the apricot-based agroforestry land use framework for biomass production and carbon stock assessment to alleviate the global climate change crisis. For conducting the experiment y, two intercrops, namely mung bean (Vigna radiata) and garlic (Allium sativum), were intercropped with an 11-year-old orchard of apricot. The maximum total biomass of mung bean (1667.44 kg ha-1) was recorded under mung bean+ recommended doses of manure and fertilizers; 20 t FYM; 10 kg N; 40 kg P2O5, and 35 kg K2O/ha, whereas the maximum biomass of garlic (2,472.23 kg ha-1) was registered under garlic + recommended doses of manure and fertilizers; 20 t FYM, 50 kg N, and 62.5 Kg P2O5/ha The treatment, wild apricot + mung bean - garlic + recommended doses of manure and fertilizers for mung bean; 20 t FYM, 10 kg N: 40 Kg P P2O5 and 35 Kg K2O/ha + recommended amounts of manure and fertilizers for garlic; 20 t FYM, 50 kg N, and 62.5 Kg P2O5/ha displayed the highest value of total tree biomass (59.22 t ha-1). The treatment combination of wild apricot + mungbean – garlic + recommended doses of manure and fertilizers for mung bean; 20 t FYM, 10 kg N: 40 Kg P2O5 and 35 Kg K2O/ha + recommended quantities of manure and fertilizers for garlic; 20 t FYM, 50 kg N, and 62.5 Kg P2O5/ha (74.58 t ha-1) stored highest ecosystem carbon which is around 1.5 folds more elevated than the mono crop-based land-use system. The current study's findings could help to determine the best crop combinations for fruit-based land-use systems, estimation of biomass and carbon density of different ecosystem components, and above all, land use planning in other related Himalayan ecosystems. Top Keywords Agroforestry, Apricot, Biomass, Carbon, Garlic, Himalayas, Mung bean. Top |