A Review Approach for Soil Carbon Sequestration through Agroforestry Systems

Abstract

Carbon sequestration in soils has become an important approach to offsetting climate change, improving soil fertility, and supporting sustainable agriculture systems. Agroforestry, a combined land-use system integrating trees, crops, and/or animals, has been significantly effective in increasing the stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC) attributed to its long-lived vegetation cover, extensive root systems, and ongoing litter inputs. In contrast to traditional monocropping systems, agroforestry offers long-term ecological services through soil stabilisation, erosion prevention, and nutrient cycling. This review integrates current knowledge on the mechanisms, potential, and limitations of soil carbon sequestration using agroforestry systems. The discussion highlights the ways in which agroforestry enhances soil health, ecosystem resilience, and biodiversity, as well as helps mitigate climate change by enhancing carbon sinks. In addition, the review emphasises agroforestry's economic and social co-benefits to smallholder farmers, including better livelihoods, diversified income streams, and increased food security. The paper also emphasises the need for facilitative policy frameworks, financial incentives, and strong monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) mechanisms for scaling up agroforestry adoption. Lastly, research needs and future agendas are considered, among them long-term field experiments, carbon modelling strategies, and agroforestry inclusion in national climate action plans.