Soil Health and Carbon Stock Enhancement through Fruit Tree-based Agroforestry in the Degraded Lands of Central Kashmir Himalayas

Agroforestry has emerged as a sustainable land use system capable of enhancing soil health and mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration. The present study investigates the influence of fruit tree-based agroforestry systems on soil physico-chemical properties and carbon stock dynamics in comparison to sole cropping systems. Results revealed a significant improvement in soil quality under agroforestry, marked by decreased bulk density, pH, and electrical conductivity, alongside enhanced organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and soil moisture. These improvements are attributed to continuous litterfall, root turnover, and better ground cover from tree-crop interactions. Simultaneously, agroforestry treatments demonstrated a higher total carbon stock across biomass (above and below ground), soil, and crops. The highest tree carbon density (8.71 t ha⁻¹) and total system carbon stock (52.88 t ha⁻¹) were recorded under apricot-based intercropping (Apricot + Rajmash), significantly surpassing the control treatments. Soil carbon stock was also notably greater under agroforestry systems, likely due to increased organic inputs and improved microclimatic conditions. These findings confirm that agroforestry not only enhances soil fertility but also contributes substantially to atmospheric carbon capture, making it a viable strategy for climate-resilient agriculture in the Himalayan region.