Optimizing planting geometries in eucalyptus-based food production systems for enhanced yield and carbon sequestration

作者：S. B. Chavan, R. S. Dhillon, Chhavi Sirohi, Ibrahim Saleh, A. R. Uthappa, A. Keerthika, Dinesh Jinger, Hanamant M. Halli, Aliza Pradhan, Vijaysinha Kakade · 发表于：Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fsufs.2024.1386035 · 研究领域：Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems、Forest ecology and management、Tree Root and Stability Studies

The integration of trees into diverse land-use systems holds potential for India to meet nationally determined contribution (NDC) targets under the Paris Climate Agreement. With a target of sequestering 2.5–3 billion tons of CO 2 equivalent by 2030, the study focused on the widespread and economically viable eucalyptus-based agroforestry, practiced widely in various planting geometries tailored to meet industrial end-use requirements. In this context, a detailed study was conducted to quantify the influence of five planting geometries [3 m × 3 m, 6 × 1.5 m, 17 × 1 × 1 m (paired row) and two boundary plantations (east–west and north–south directions) at 2 m away from tree to tree] of eucalyptus on intercrops [dhaincha ( Sesbania aculeata )—barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) rotation] biomass, soil properties, and carbon stock of the system during 2009–2016. Results revealed that biomass accumulation of different tree components was 62.50%–74.09% in stem; 6.59%–9.14% in branch; 3.18%–5.73% in leaves; 12.20%–20.44% in stump roots; and 1.71%–3.48% in fine roots across the planting geometries. The mean carbon content of the stem, branch, leaves, and roots was 49.00, 47.00, 43.00, and 49.00%, respectively. Over the 8-year period, geometry of 3 × 3 m performed better in terms of total biomass production (344.60 Mg ha − 1 by tree biomass and 62.53 Mg ha −1 by intercrops). The independent parameter, DBH 2 H (DBH: diameter at breast height and H: tree height), was found to be a very good pre...