Impact of Agroforestry Practices on Carbon Sequestration and Soil Fertility in Developing Countries

Abstract

Agroforestry has emerged as a promising land-use system capable of addressing climate change, soil degradation, and declining agricultural sustainability. This study quantitatively and qualitatively assessed the impacts of different agroforestry systems on soil organic carbon dynamics, biomass carbon stocks, and total ecosystem carbon across representative agro-ecological conditions. Field-based measurements combined with analytical modeling were used to evaluate above-ground, below-ground, and soil carbon pools in comparison with conventional land-use systems. The results reveal that agroforestry systems consistently exhibit higher soil organic carbon stocks, enhanced biomass carbon accumulation, and greater total ecosystem carbon storage. Mature agri-silviculture and silvopastoral systems demonstrated the highest carbon sequestration potential, while diversified agroforestry arrangements showed improved carbon stability and reduced variability across plots. Graphical analyses further indicated strong positive relationships between biomass inputs and soil carbon enhancement, confirming the synergistic role of trees in regulating carbon cycling. The integration of multiple data sources reduced uncertainty and highlighted system-specific drivers influencing carbon sequestration rates. Overall, the findings confirm that agroforestry significantly outperforms conventional agriculture in terms of carbon storage and soil health improvement, offering a resilient and scalable strategy for climate change mitigation, land degradation neutrality, and sustainable agricultural development.