Assessing Biomass Production and Carbon storage in Agroforestry Systems Located at Proximity Gradients to Gobind Sagar Reservoir

This study assessed biomass and carbon storage dynamics across different agroforestry systems and distance gradients from a reservoir. Biomass estimation was carried out using stratified quadrat sampling for trees and crops, with carbon stock quantified as the sum of the aboveground and belowground components. There was significant variation in the total carbon storage among agroforestry systems and across distance classes, with their interaction effect also being noteworthy (P = 0.429). The home garden system exhibited the highest carbon stock (54.05 t ha⁻¹), while the agri-silviculture system recorded the lowest (29.42 t ha⁻¹). Across spatial gradients, carbon stocks declined with increasing distance from the reservoir, ranging from 45.69 t ha⁻¹ at D1 (0-2 km), to 29.95 t ha⁻¹ at D7 (12-14 km). The combined influence of management practices, species composition, and site conditions plays a decisive role in carbon accumulation. These findings affirm that diversified and intensively managed agroforestry systems, particularly home gardens, have greater potential for enhancing carbon storage than less diversified systems.