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Contribution of trees to soil carbon sequestration under agroforestry systems in the West African Sahel

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Abstract

Consequent to recent recognition of agricultural soils as carbon (C) sinks, agroforestry practices in the West African Sahel (WAS) region have received attention for their C sequestration potential. This study was undertaken in the Ségou region of Mali that represents the WAS, to examine the extent of C sequestration, especially in soils, in agroforestry systems. Five land-use systems were selected in farmers’ fields [two traditional parkland systems, two improved agroforestry systems (live fence and fodder bank), and a so-called abandoned land]. Soil samples taken from three depths (0–10 cm, 10–40 cm, and 40–100 cm) were fractionated into three size classes (2,000–250 μm, 250–53 μm, and <53 μm) and their C contents determined. Whole-soil C contents, g kg−1 soil, across three depths ranged from 1.33–4.69 in the parklands, 1.11–4.42 in live fence, 1.87–2.30 in fodder bank, and 3.69–5.30 in abandoned land; and they correlated positively with silt + clay content. Using the 13C isotopic ratio as an indicator of relative contribution of trees (C3 plants) and crops (C4 plants) to soil C, more tree-origin C was found in larger particle size and surface soil and indicated that long-term tree presence promoted storage of protected C in deeper soil. Existing long-standing agroforestry practices of the region such as the parklands seemed to have little advantage for sequestering additional C, whereas improved agroforestry practices such as live fence and fodder bank introduced in treeless croplands seemed to be advantageous.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support that the first author received for the study from the Fulbright Program, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), Center for Subtropical Agroforestry of the University of Florida (UF), and Tropical Conservation and Development Program of UF is greatly appreciated. We thank Dr. Bocary Kaya and other members of staff of ICRAF Sahel Regional Programme, Mali, for their cooperation and support for field research. We also thank Solomon Haile for his assistance at various stages of this work.

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  1. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Asako Takimoto, Vimala D. Nair & P. K. Ramachandran Nair

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  1. Asako Takimoto
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  2. Vimala D. Nair
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  3. P. K. Ramachandran Nair
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Correspondence to Vimala D. Nair.

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Takimoto, A., Nair, V.D. & Nair, P.K.R. Contribution of trees to soil carbon sequestration under agroforestry systems in the West African Sahel. Agroforest Syst 76, 11–25 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9179-5

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